Kate (Crooke) Hames

Kate C.Hames

  Lura Kate Crooke Hames, 102, of Woodruff, SC passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, May 27, 2025, at her home.  

  Born on May 2, 1923, in Spartanburg County, she was the daughter of the late Jim and Lura Huggins Crooke.  She is preceded in death by almost everybody she knew other than her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.  In the year of Kate’s birth one hundred and two years ago, Warren G Harding was the President of the United States, archaeologists first opened the tomb of King Tut, Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is published, the Walt Disney Company is founded and our Kate was born.   

  On December 4, 1944, Kate married Jake Hames, her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life, when he came home on leave during WWII.  They were married for an incredible 61 years until his death in 2006. When she and Jake built the house of their dreams, she wanted a pool even though she couldn’t swim. She got the pool. She wanted her daughter to be a debutant. That didn’t happen. She wanted her son to become President of the US. He joined a rock and roll band. But Kate was never disappointed. When Jake played golf, she refused to be a golf widow and learned the sport so well that she competed in the women’s club championship at Three Pines Country Club.

  Kate, a businesswoman in the 1960’s, was a hairdresser during a time when women rarely combed their own hair and usually had their hair professionally styled weekly. Kate loved her customers who visited her business regularly. Those customers were her dear friends, confidants and, much to her family’s dismay, informants and advice givers. Not only did she cut, curl and style their hair from age 32 until age 90, she learned beauty routines, like taking dozens of vitamins daily and which anti-wrinkle creams (or tapes) to use. She followed those rules religiously until she left this earth.  

  Kate was a devout Christian and a member of Woodruff First Baptist Church, where she attended the Gleaners Sunday School class for many years. She loved the Lord and reading her Bible. Despite her age, her memory was very sharp, allowing her to recite the story of the woman at the well in the book of John just a few months ago.  

  Kate lived life to the fullest. She enjoyed her family, loved to laugh and uplifted those around her. She also enjoyed quilting, gardening, playing golf, exercising in her pool and traveling the country.

  Kate is survived by her two children, Juanita “Nita” Hames High of Saluda, NC and Clyde Robert “Bob” Hames of the home, her loving daughter-in-law Phyllis Hames, three grandchildren, all of whom she lovingly called “Hunny”: Gabe Armour (Amy), Nikki Lindsey (Jay) and Landon Hames (Annie); several great-grandchildren: Keegan Armour, Jordyn Lindsey, Sofie Armour, Jake Hames, Jackson Lindsey, Shelby Burnett (Micah)  Ally Stockman and two great-great grands: Emory Burnett and Palmer Burnett. She enjoyed keeping up with their activities and hearing their stories. She is also survived by nieces, nephews and cousins, and other family, all of whom she loved dearly. Her family will treasure memories of swimming at her pool, traveling the country, sitting around the table or at the kitchen bar learning life lessons.

  A graveside service, conducted by Rev. Andrew Shull of Woodruff First Baptist, will be held on Friday, May 30th, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Bethel Cemetery in Woodruff, SC.  

  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Woodruff First Baptist Church 801 Cross Anchor Road, Woodruff SC 29388 or to Spartanburg Regional Hospice, 120 Heywood Avenue. Suite 300 Spartanburg, SC 29302.

  The family would like to thank the Hospice nurses and her caregivers, Tam, Carol, Eunice, Makayla and their director, Sharon Hardy.  

  The family will be at the home. 

  Lanford-Gwinn Mortuary