Kathleen Holland Olsen

Kathleen Holland Olsen, passed away on February 3, 2024, at the age of 89 in Hurst, Texas. Born on July 24, 1934, in San Antonio, Texas, Kathleen lived a remarkable life filled with elegance, charm, and no-nonsense practicality. She was a devoted rancher who cherished her beautiful ranch in West Texas and deeply valued her friends and family. Kathleen's wisdom was admired by many, and she was always willing to share her insights with others. Though soft-spoken, her views were definite and were often delivered with wry humor.

Kathleen's greatest loves were her husband of almost 40 years, Paul Olsen, and her three sons: John (Jack) Catto Stradley, Jr. (and his wife Stephanie), James Edward Stradley (and his wife Kathy Killingsworth), and Richard Gage Stradley, (and his daughter Savannah). She also held a special place in her heart for her first cousin Roxana Catto Hayne and her extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews.

A woman of many talents, Kathleen was an accomplished painter, an experienced and adventurous traveler beginning with trips to Europe that she took as a young girl with her Mother and continuing with many fun trips with Paul and their close friends to wonderful golf resorts in the US, an avid reader, and a fan of double-stuffed Oreos. She had a keen eye for capturing the beauty of the world through her paintings.   Kathleen was a proud member of the West of the Pecos Cattlewomen and attended their meetings for many years. Kathleen's love for her ranch, friends, and family was quiet, yet incredibly strong.  

Kathleen received her education at St. Mary's Hall for primary and high school, and though she lived in San Antonio from September to May, each summer she and her family would move to their home at the Gage Ranch near Marathon, by the Pena Blanca Springs.   Her grandfather was Alfred S. Gage who is well known for the large ranching operation he built, and also for building the Gage Hotel in Marathon, so he would have a place to stay when he took the train from San Antonio to Marathon to oversee his cattle herd. After graduating from St. Mary’s Hall, she  attended Connecticut College and then the University of Texas, where she joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and graduated with a BA in English literature.

 After college graduation, Kathleen moved to New York City to work for a year, and she lived with a group of other young Texas women including her good friend Bonnie Sue Jacobs. She returned to San Antonio after New York, and then moved to her ranch near Alpine, Texas where she raised her three sons, and she lived there the rest of her life. Throughout her life, she remained committed to her ranching career, and she also owned and operated the Highland Art Gallery and the Highland Inn in Alpine for many years.

Kathleen lived a full life up until the last few weeks when her heart began to fail. She spent her final days in three different towns and three different hospitals, but was able to spend concentrated one on one time with her three sons, for those last weeks, which turned the difficult time into an unforeseen gift for her and her family.

A private burial will be held for the immediate family, to be followed at a later date by a memorial service to celebrate Kathleen's life. The details of the memorial service are yet to be determined. 

Alpine Memorial Funeral Home in Alpine, Texas is assisting the family with the arrangements.