Emma Kate Hathaway, born at Upper Tract, West Virginia, the daughter of Earl and Lena (Heavner) Wheaton on May 14th, 1940, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, August 7th, 2024 while a resident at Pendleton Manor in Franklin.

She was a 1958 graduate of Franklin High School and worked for the West Virginia Department of Highways.  She later lived in Asheville, North Carolina and after relocation to Upper Tract, Emma Kate worked as a teacher's aide and then as school secretary at both the former Upper Tract Elementary School and Franklin High School.  After retirement, she worked part-time as the check-in lady at the former Thompson's Motel.  She was a member of Upper Tract Presbyterian Church and attended Petersburg Presbyterian Church.  Emma Kate enjoyed working at the Upper Tract polling place during elections and was well known by everyone in the community.

She is survived by her sons, Nathan and Jason Hathaway, their spouses respectively, Helen and Laurel, her grandchildren, Olivia (Nathan) and Brenna and Jack (Jason), her sister, Patricia Swecker, of Franklin, and several nieces and nephews.  Preceding her in death were a brother, Richard Wheaton, and two sisters, Louise Mullenax and Jean Mays. She will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 2:00 PM Sunday, August 11 at Kimble Funeral Home in Franklin, where a funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Larry Hakes officiating.

Interment will be at Cherry Hill Cemetery at Upper Tract.

An animal lover all her life, in lieu of flowers, Emma Kate would have appreciated a donation, in any amount, to PAWS, P. O. Box 804, Franklin, WV  26807 or your local ASPCA.