Gavel Gamut By Jim Redwine
www.jamesmredwine.com
(Week of 03 April 2017)
KATRINA SUE MANN
(1957 – 2017)
A EULOGY
Gentle Reader, you may wonder why there is no photograph of Katrina to go with this eulogy nor are there other written remembrances of her forty years of service to Posey County and me. The reason is to be found in the adage which best describes her: “The impossible can be accomplished if praise is not the object.â€
Katrina served Posey County from 1976 at age eighteen until March 27, 2017 without seeking or wanting recognition. She worked first for Posey Circuit Court Judge Steve Bach, then for Posey County assessor Mary Lee Curtis, then for Posey County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Rachels and his successor Tom McClelland, then with me in what was the Posey County/now Posey Superior Court/ and from 1983 until last week with me in the Posey Circuit Court.
According to the Posey County Auditor’s Office, as of last week Katrina had 494.50 hours of unused/unpaid vacation, personal, sick and flex time (comp. time). Katrina could never find time for herself as she was always doing for everybody else. The Court came first, right after her family.
Her work required diligence and intelligence. Her diligence was legendary among her fellow workers and thousands of citizens who relied upon her for answers to countless complicated legal questions. Of course, most people did not know about her 144 point I.Q., every point of which often came to the rescue of attorneys, litigants and me.
There was no job or issue that came before the Court that Katrina felt was not her responsibility. If there was work to be done and people to be helped, she was all in without a request for assistance or thanks.
Gentle Reader, you may have never had the honor and pleasure of knowing Katrina Sue Mann but if you or your family, friends or clients needed any service from Posey County government during the last forty years, you may well owe a debt of gratitude to Katrina. However, do not feel bad for not knowing about her sterling service and generous attitude; she would have been embarrassed for you to acknowledge her.
For example, Katrina worked right up to going into the hospital last week in spite of immense pain and discomfort. I am pretty sure now, although she fought to the end, she knew this time was different. Of course, she made sure nobody else, including me, knew.
Since Katrina can no longer prevent anyone from singing a paean to her, perhaps if you knew her but also did not get a chance to tell her goodbye, you may wish to join in the following farewell:
Elegy to Kat Mann
A young girl from West Franklin came,
to work at the Court, but not to seek fame.
Her long flowing hair framed a lovely fresh face,
to me she’s the same tho’ the years moved apace.
Dreams she had many, she kept them inside,
while others she served her own would abide.
Her nephews and niece knew Aunt Sue Sue wouldn’t fail,
her Mom and siblings would always prevail.
She gave of her best each day of her life,
solving the Court’s innumerable strifes.
She never smoked, drank or cursed or pulled a trigger,
yet she is the one whose own body attacked her, go figger.
Never a word of self or complaint,
ever for others much as a saint.
Kat Mann I miss you, you know we all will,
if there is any justice, you’ll be with us still.
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Well said She was a treasure and kind to all.
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