Kathryn Irene Briggs Starcher

Starcher

Kathryn Irene Briggs Starcher, 89, of Safford, AZ, formerly of Marietta, OH, passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2023 in Safford, AZ. Kathryn, known as “Kay” was born to James F. and Beulah I. Briggs on September 29, 1934 at Gravel Bank, OH. She grew up on the Briggs farm at Gravel Bank and attended class at the one room Gravel Bank School. She graduated from Marietta High School, Marietta, OH and Otterbein College, Westerville, OH. She taught at Bloomfield High School in the Ludlow Local School District, Bloomfield, OH and at Lawrence High School in the Little Muskingum Local School District, Dart, OH, both in the Washington County Public School System, Marietta, OH. During these years she also worked part-time as a secretary for Briggs Sand and Gravel, Inc and the Betsey Mills Club, secretary for the John Heath Insurance Company in Marietta, and she was the summer dining room supervisor for the Canton Ohio Great Trails Girl Scout Camp.

On August 7, 1960, Kathryn married Ronald Roscoe Starcher in the First Congregational Church in Marietta. In 1962 they moved to Tucson, AZ, where both entered graduate school at the University of Arizona. Kathryn taught Home Economics at Sunnyside High School. She served as chairperson of the Home Economics Department and worked with Dr. Amy Jean Knorr, Home Economics curriculum consultant, Arizona State Department of Education and professor of Home Economics, College of Home Economics, University of Arizona to set up a vocational home economics department at Sunnyside High School.

Upon receiving her master’s degree on May 29, 1971, she moved with Ronald to Wellton, AZ, where she assumed the position of Librarian for Antelope Union High School. From 1972 to 1975 she worked as a substitute teacher and evaluator in the Yuma County Career Information/Exploration Center and as a Yuma County Career Education project career Education Specialist. She worked from 1975 to 1981 for the Pinal County Career Education Coordinator in the Casa Grande office. From 1981 t0 1984 she worked as a Construction Company payroll clerk. From 1984 to 1996 Kathryn taught Home Economics and was the chairperson of the pre-vocational Department of Clifton High School in Clifton, AZ.

Kathryn retired from Clifton at the end of the 1995-1996 school years to enjoy traveling and as a unit and region officer in the Wally Byam (Airstream Owners) Caravan Club. Kathryn was a member of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and was a certified Home Economist. She was a member of the American Association of the University Women, Marietta Branch. She was also a member of the Marietta Chapter #59 O.E.S. And a member of the Cody Family Association, Inc.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ronald Roscoe Starcher; her brother, James A. Briggs.

Services will be private with burial to take place in Mound Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to the First Congregational Church Memorial Fund, 318 Front St., Marietta, OH 45750; the Ronald and Kathryn Starcher Scholarship Fund at Safford High School, 734 11th St. Safford, AZ 85546; or to the Briggs-Starcher Scholarship Fund at Otterbein University, 1 South Grove St., Westerville, OH 43081.

Online condolences may be made at www.hadleyfh.com.