Kathy McLaughlin, Age 66, of Rowlett passed away, Saturday, April 13th, 2019.

Kathy, tall and beautiful, grew up with her beloved parents Charles and Wilhelmina Sponberg and younger brother Charles in Austin, Texas. Kathy was an accomplished classical pianist, taking part in numerous state competitions during her childhood. She always made herself available to support her brother with unconditional love and educational guidance growing up. At McCallum High School, she played flute in the concert band and participated as a twirler in the marching band. She graduated high school in 1971.

Kathy went on to attend the University of Texas, graduating in 1974 with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. While in school, she was an avid member of the Longhorn Marching Band, and upon graduation, became an active member of the Longhorn Alumni Band. She travelled to play in the Alumni game each year that she was able. Her love for her University was most clearly expressed as she enthusiastically cheered on Longhorn athletic teams, and her favorite time of year was the college football season.

After taking a university course, Kathy fell in love with Ballet. She performed with the Austin Ballet Theater, and at the Rowlett Dance Academy, she performed various leading roles in the Nutcracker ballet. She danced and continued to take part in performances well into her 50’s.

In 1974, she began her career as a Kindergarten teacher at Sims Elementary in Austin, Texas. After several years of instruction, she decided to continue her education, and pursued her Master’s Degree from UT Austin in Early Childhood Education. In 1984 she attained that degree. After 10 years of service and the birth of her first son Robert in December of 1985, she retired from teaching in order to focus on being a mother. She dedicated her life to raising her eventual three children, with the addition of Michael in 1988 and William in 1992.

John and Kathy were married on August 1, 1981 in Austin and resided there until they moved to Rowlett in 1990. She was a loving and supportive wife.

Kathy’s dedication to her children meant that they had very active childhoods. Starting at an early age, she began instructing them in piano. She was highly engaged with the Cub Scout programs of Pack 1020, and both Michael and William would eventually attain Eagle Scout ranks in Troop 1020. Kathy was a major influence in their progress in Scouting.

Kathy loved working with her hands and completed beautiful needle point and crochet projects. She would go above and beyond to encourage her children to pursue creative endeavors.

In her later years, she also volunteered with the special needs care organizations that her son Robert attended. Her time at My Possibilities and Coventry Reserve was spent enriching the lives of their members with arts projects, life skills education, and enterprise education. Kathy had a lasting interest in biblical studies, through study groups, books, and television as well as holistic medicine. She also had a love for movies produced in the 1930s through the 1950s.

Kathy was preceded in death by her father, Charles W. Sponberg Jr. and mother, Wilhelmina M. Sponberg. Kathy is survived by her brother, Charles Sponberg and his wife Leslie, husband John McLaughlin, sons Robert McLaughlin, Michael McLaughlin and his wife Jenna, William McLaughlin and his wife Heather, and granddaughter Charlotte McLaughlin.

Graveside services will be held 1:00 pm Thursday, April 18, 2019, at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Rowlett. In Lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the following organizations:
The Coventry Reserve ( www.CoventryReserve.org )
My Possibilities ( www.MyPossibilities.org )
Mercy Ships ( www.mercyships.org )