Kathy Diane Hensley age 74 of Watertown died Friday evening June 26, 2026 at Alive Hospice in Nashville. Born May 22, 1952 in Lebanon, she was the daughter of the late Walter Hatton Knowles and Edna Marie Smith Knowles. Kathy was preceded in death by her son, Matthew in 1991; a daughter, Ashley in 2025 and her brother, Robert Hatton Knowles on June 24, 2026.

Kathy was a graduate of Lebanon High School and Cumberland College, she received her Bachelor's Degree from Middle Tennessee State University and was a teacher for 33 years at Watertown Middle School where she touched many lives in the community. She was named Teacher of the Year three times and was proud to be the sponsor of the Middle School Honor Society.  Kathy was a member of the Shop Springs Baptist Church where she was active in the Vacation Bible School.

Kathy is survived by her husband of 49 years, Kenneth Robert Hensley; son, Jonathan Hensley; grandchildren, Emily, Luke and Ana, and a son-in-law, Will Allen Matthews IV.  She is also survived by her sister, Shelby Jean Morgan and her husband, Fred Wilson and their daughters, Vivian, Rhonda, Rita Gale and Rachel Dawn; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Knowles and nephew, Derrick and niece, Wendy.

A memorial service to celebrate Kathy's life will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at Hunter Funeral Home with her friend and former Principal, Anita Christian speaking.  Visitation will be from 2 p.m. till service time on Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the MTSU Dept. of History and mailed to MTSU Office of Development, MTSU Box 109, Murfreesboro, TN 37132.  Please make checks payable to MTSU Foundation and include Dept. of History on the memo line.