Kathy Jan Hogancamp

Kathy Jan Hogancamp, age 68, of Paducah, passed away on Thursday, October 21, 2022 at Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center.
 
Kathy was born June 19, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri to Dr. Charles and Kathleen Fay Hogancamp.  During the summer before Kathy’s senior year of high school, she was involved in a car accident that left her paralyzed from the shoulders down.  To some, that would diminish any type of willpower to succeed but that only gave Kathy more desire.  She graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School with honors while in a rehabilitation hospital and then went on to graduate from Paducah Community College and Murray State University with honors, earning a double degree in English and History.  Kathy then attended Southern Illinois University and received her Master’s degree in educational psychology and counseling.  However, Kathy did not stop there.  In 1984, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she was a program specialist for the U.S. Department of Education and received the Presidential Award for Outstanding Federal Employees with a Disability.  Kathy returned to Paducah after eight years in Washington and began tutoring students. In 1994, Kathy was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives and served two terms.  She was the first Republican in history to be elected from the Jackson Purchase area.  Kathy also worked as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Education. 
 
Kathy was known for her resilience and desire to make a difference.  After her accident she could have given up on her goals, but she made the decision to make something of her life due to a strong Christian faith and belief she still had much to offer. She has been a school teacher, a private tutor, a bureaucrat, a politician and a self-employed contractor for the federal government.  Kathy did exactly what she had set out to do and that was make a difference.
 
Kathy is survived by four sisters, Susan Rothwell (Craig) of Paducah, Bonny Huskey (Richard) of Bowling Green, Tricia Fitch (David) of Clive, Iowa, Joan Davis (Phil) of Paducah; two brothers, Dr. C. David Hogancamp (Lori) of Paducah and Ft. Myers, Florida, Dr. William E. Hogancamp (Carol) of Paducah, along with several nieces and nephews.
 
She was preceded in death by her parents.
 
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Rev. Jamie Broome officiating. 
 
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
 
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to: Merryman House P.O. Box 98, Paducah, KY 42002, Paducah Cooperative Ministry 402 Legions Dr., Paducah, KY 42003 or a charity that is special to you.
 
You may leave a message for the family or light a candle at www.milnerandorr.com.