Kathryn "Kathy" Onley passed away in her sleep in the early morning hours of Christmas 2024. She was born October 6, 1948 in Sherman, Texas, the second daughter of Howard Benton Onley and Jane Lemon.

Kathy attended Sherman High School and then earned a Bachelor of Science from East Texas State University in Commerce followed by a master's and Ph.D. in nutrition from Texas Woman's University in 1973 and 1977. She was hired by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City as an assistant professor of clinical dietetics and the assistant project director of the Human Nutrition Program. In 1980 Dr. Onley was named associate professor, and in 1981 she became chairman of the Department of Clinical Dietetics. Continuing her rise in the College of Allied Health, Kathy was named chairman of the Department of Nutritional Sciences in 1994; the same year she was elected by the American Dietetic Association as the "Distinguished Dietitian of the Year" in Oklahoma. Additional honors that Kathy earned include the 1981 "Governor's Commendation Award" for her work with the State Nutrition Task Force, and a "Senior College Teaching Award" in 1986. She earned the Oklahoma University "Distinguished Teaching Award" in 1989, and the "Recognition of Service Award" in 1993 from the American Dietetic Association. In 2016, the office of the chairman of Nutritional Sciences was named in her honor with a plaque and picture of Kathy placed beside the office door. Dr. Onley authored or co-authored numerous scientific papers on nutrition that were published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals. She was a Registered Dietitian and active member of the Oklahoma Dietetic Association, the American Dietetic Association, and the Oklahoma Health Education Advisory Council. Kathy's contributions to the science of human nutrition and health are innumerable.

Kathy was also determined to use her knowledge of nutrition to help others. She volunteered as a clinical dietitian at the Center for Eating Disorders in Oklahoma City and helped improve the lives of hundreds of clients. Kathy's compassion, empathy and wonderful sense of humor allowed her to personally connect with patients and help them achieve full recovery. She believed and counseled that for some individuals, food can be as addictive as alcohol or drugs. Kathy was a master at calculating caloric intake and preparing personalized and successful diets. For women suffering from bulimia, often including body-image issues, Kathy made her own life relatable by sharing her experience as a breast cancer survivor. Dr. Kathryn Onley was not just a talented department chair, award winning academic leader, scientist, teacher and civic volunteer, she was a loving and giving person who made time to help a dear friend raise two young daughters. She cared for a friend with terminal cancer in her home. On retirement, she moved-in with her widower father and cared for him until his passing and then cared for her widowed aunt. In 2006 she moved to Collin County, Texas to be near her sister, niece and nephew. Kathy was blessed with a natural gift of making everyone around her laugh, while feeling special and at ease.

Kathy Onley was preceded in death by her parents, H.B. and Jane Onley, aunt Veneta Young, sister Patricia Onley and nephew Josh Onley. Kathy is survived by her niece Kate Onley and husband Wes Hunt of McKinney, grandnephew Benton Onley, cousins Joe Hamrick and wife Elin of Lufkin and Dave Hamrick and wife Kathy of Austin.

Kathy's Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. A private graveside service will be held at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery where Kathy will be laid to rest next to her parents and many loved ones in the Lemon Family Plot. Memorial contributions may be made in Kathy's name to the National Breast Cancer Foundation at https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/ or to a charity of your choice.