With regret we bring you the news that our classmate, Kathy Bell—who later went by Kathee Collett, died in April 2025. 

The excellent obituary below gives us Kathee’s inspiring story, having to assume early on the sole responsibility for raising her daughter while being the breadwinner.  Kathee became a successful businesswoman whose employees loved working for her.   The obituary website-- https://www.jtmorriss.com/obituaries/kathleen-collett --has tributes from friends and employees who testify to how well Kathee lived her life and influenced others.

Coach Bill Belichick is referenced in the obituary.  Kathee’s daughter, Marikaye, told me that Kathee and Bill are ‘first cousins’. For those of you who do not know who Coach Belichick is, I recommend you google him.

[ We thank Esther Kalish Cox for alerting us to Kathee’s passing. ]

Kathleen Collett

April 16, 1943 — April 21, 2025

Collett, Kathleen "Kathee" Bell was born on April 16, 1943, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Depression Era parents, John and Katie Bell (Belichick) who raised her in Beaver Falls, PA. Kathee graduated from B.F.H.S. Class of 1961, and in 1962 she graduated from Franco Beauty Academy in Ambridge, PA.

Married right out of high school, she had her only child in 1963 and divorced in 1966. She was determined to make a success of her life. It wasn't easy to do, being a young single mother in an era when women weren't considered "businesswomen." Thanks to a loan from her father, she was able to open her own salon in Beaver Falls and worked hard for five years building a successful business and paid her father back in full with interest! She sold her salon and was hired by Charlotte, NC based La Marick Beauty Systems, to supervise their ten salons and Wig Huts in the Richmond, VA area. Kathee's business acumen developed well while opening many salons and Wig Huts throughout the southeast from VA to Florida. During this time, she did many T.V. shows, hair styling platforms and held classes training stylists.

By 1973, tired of all the traveling and constant hassle of childcare, she opened the first "unisex" hair styling salon in the Tri Cities area, "Kathee's Koiffures Inc" on the Boulevard in Colonial Heights, VA. With long hours and hard work, her salons proved to be quite successful, as did her many other business ventures.

In 1978 she married Petersburg businessman G. Terry Collett, the one true love of her life. They both worked very hard at their respective businesses and had a very fun and loving marriage that lasted until the heartbreak of Terry's death on October 13, 2022.

Kathee (Kathleen/Karen) is survived by her sweet, loving daughter Marikaye Pond of Chester, VA who gave Kathee and Terry the best gift ever, the grandsons that brought so much love, pride and joy into their lives, John A. Pond and wife, Lauren of Ruckersville, VA, and James L. Pond of Chester; along with dear friends, Katie Long, Lois Tatum, and Dixie Fossum. Survivors also include many cousins in various states, including Coach Bill Belichick.

J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home in Petersburg is in charge of funeral arrangements. There will be no viewing, only a graveside service at Blandford Cemetery on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 3:00 PM.

Flowers would be nice, but a memorial donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, VA Chapter, 5544 Falmouth Street, Suite 101, Richmond, VA 23230 would help others fight blood cancers.

https://www.jtmorriss.com/obituaries/kathleen-collett