Katherine Couch Dailey

Katherine Couch Dailey, 75, of Little Rock, passed away peacefully surrounded by her beloved family on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, following a short illness.

Born June 14, 1948, to Richard and Mary Couch of Texarkana, Ark., she was known by everyone who spent more than five minutes in her presence as “a real hoot.” She was gregarious and funny and easy to talk to and was usually not shy about speaking her mind.

Katherine made it her life’s work to be a devoted wife and mother and a stalwart friend. She believed her greatest accomplishment was raising her three children and, in her later years, being a doting Nana. She fiercely loved a long line of dogs, the latest of which might be the

dachshundiest dachshund that ever lived, Woody.

Katherine married Donald Dailey in 1968 in Texarkana. Over 55 years of marriage they welcomed three children and one grandchild. They lived first in Texarkana and later, for 26 years, in Parsons, Kan., before retiring to the country outside of Hot Springs, Ark., in 2012. They moved to Little Rock in June 2023. She was a 1966 graduate of Arkansas High School and studied at the University of Arkansas. A lifelong Episcopalian, she was a member of St. James’ Church in Texarkana and St. John’s Church in Parsons.

Claiming to be “not much of a hobbyist,” she actually had a good run of years at variously being a whitewater rafter, world traveler, once-a-year trout fisherwoman and an avid consumer of English television series. She and Donald and a big group of friends rafted on rivers across

the western U.S., where her status as a real hoot was a big asset. Beginning in the 2000s, she made several trips to Europe with her daughters, visiting England several times including for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. They also visited Italy, Switzerland, France, The Netherlands,

Ireland, Scotland and Mexico. Visiting the old world churches and chapels were favorite memories of those trips. She delighted in her annual White River trout fishing trips with her lifelong girlfriends, Susan Webber Wright and Susan Kittrell, both of Little Rock.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Don Dailey (Gina), of Colorado Springs, Colo., Jodie Dailey (Laney) of Little Rock, Ark., Katie Dailey (Nicole) of rural Garland County; a grandchild, Abigail Dailey, of Colorado Springs; two brothers, Richard Couch of

Colorado Springs and Robert Couch of Birmingham, Ala.; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to St. James’ Church, 417 Olive St, Texarkana, TX 75501 or St. John’s Church, 1801 Corning Ave, Parsons, KS 67357.

Arrangements by Arkansas Cremation, 10515 W Markham St, Ste B1, Little Rock, AR 72205.