Katherine Marks Nowell, 89, of Tarboro, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2026 after a brief illness. Born on February 20, 1937, in Morehead City, she spent her life woven into the fabric of Eastern North Carolina, later calling Conway, SC, New Bern, NC and Laurinburg, NC home before settling in Tarboro in the early 1970s.

Naturally shy in her youth, Katherine often said that becoming a mother brought out the best in her. That transformation opened the door to a rich life of community involvement, leadership, and friendship. Years after moving to Tarboro, she became the owner of Sara’s Flowers, a beloved local business where her creativity, work ethic, and kindness flourished.

Katherine went on to hold numerous leadership roles over several decades in the North Carolina State Florist Association, regional floral organizations throughout Eastern North Carolina, and Teleflora®, earning the respect and affection of colleagues across the state.

After more than twenty years in the floral industry, Katherine retired and embraced a new chapter as a grandmother—a role she cherished deeply. Her later years were filled with family gatherings, close friendships, and the steady joys of life in Tarboro and the wider Eastern North Carolina community she loved so dearly.

Katherine was preceded in death by her parents, Woodrow and Gertie Marks; her husband, William Baxter “Bill” Nowell; her daughter, Charlotte Kelly Williams; and her granddaughter, Kelly Williams Logan.

She is survived by her children, Robert Kelly (Mellonie) and Ruth Kelly Curtis (Jim); her four grandchildren, Jacob Williams (Amanda), Ashley Kelly Whitley (Justin), Katherine Curtis Laughlin (Ryan), and Helen Suzanne Curtis (Rob); her five great‑grandchildren, Cameron Logan, Matthew Williams, and Ruby and Amelia Whitley; and her first husband, Charles T. Kelly (Sandi).

Katherine enjoyed being active in Red Hat Society, a local card playing group and loved dancing. She was a long-time member of St. James United Methodist Church in Tarboro and, in more recent years, worshiped at Conetoe Methodist Church in Conetoe.

Katherine was a quintessential southern lady. She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her devotion to family, her quiet strength, and the beauty she brought into the world—both through her flowers and through her life.

Services are pending at this time.