Katherine Harris Bentley

Augusta, GA - Katherine “Kay” Bentley passed away at home in Augusta, GA with her children by her side.

A native of Warrenton, VA, Kay met her sweetheart, John Bentley, at a high school dance and began a lifelong partnership, resulting in 54 years of marriage.

Kay went to Southern Seminary College in Virginia and American University in Washington, D.C. and married John at St. James Episcopal Church in Warrenton, VA. After several years in Hawaii, they moved to Scottsdale, AZ, where they owned a fine dining restaurant in Downtown Phoenix and started their family, having two boys, Birk and Chris. They then moved to Santa Barbara, CA, where they renovated an historic home, doing most of the work themselves. Kay loved children and volunteered at The Crane School, helping to advance its mission.

One of five girls, Kay wanted a big family and had two more sons, Alex and Colin, after they moved to Asheville, NC. While in Asheville, Kay and John made plans for their next restaurant venture, ending up in Augusta, GA and operating the business with their sons and daughters in law until 2015.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband, John; her son, Birk; her parents, Barney and Zinnia Harris of Warrenton, VA; and her oldest sister, Sandra Mitchell, also of Warrenton, VA. Her surviving children are Chris (Kristin) Bentley, Alex (Allie) Bentley, and Colin Bentley, all of Augusta, GA; her grandchildren, Emma Bentley of Atlanta, GA and David Bentley of Augusta, GA; her sisters, Sherrie (Bob) Hackett, of Paradise Valley, AZ; Pat (Tim) Nevill of Warrenton, VA; and Frankie (David) Lynne of Warrenton, VA; and her Clumber Spaniel, Finnigan.

The family will celebrate her life together at home, as she would have wanted. In lieu of flowers, please celebrate her and your memories of her, or donate to your favorite charity in her memory.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com