Martha Kathleen Root

Martha Kathleen Root of Ft. Walton Beach passed away after a two year battle with cancer on March 15, 2019 at Ft. Walton Beach Medical Center.  Her family was by her side with love and comfort as she passed from this life to the loving hands of God to be with him forever.  Kathleen was known to her friends and family as Kat.  She was born in Montgomery, AL on December 7, 1962 to Robert O. Roland and Peggy Lee (Aiton) Roland.  Both her parents were Korean War veterans and her father remained on active duty until he retired from the Army as Master Sergeant in 1971.  The family, which included her older brother, Chuck Roland, then moved to Ft. Walton Beach.  She attended college in Georgia where she earned an AA degree and a tech school, gaining a degree in drafting.  As a draftsman, she was instrumental in the preparations for the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta.  After she returned to Ft. Walton Beach, she became a freelance contractor working on a variety of design and engineering projects.  In 2003, she created the plans for her Brother Chuck’s auto collision repair shop.  It was state of the art and remains one of the largest and most advanced facilities of its kind in northern Florida.  Later, under contract with Gulf Power, she drew the plans for the airport expansion in Panama City.  Kat was deeply interested in and acquired substantial knowledge of American history, particularly the Civil War.  She became an officer in the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the Confederacy.  She loved animals and volunteered at several wild animal shelters.  Kat was an accomplished poet and many of her poems have been published.  She was preceded in death by her mother, Peggy Roland, who died in 1984.  Kat is survived by her husband, Jim Root; her father, Robert Roland; her brother, Chuck Roland; her son, Nick Chauvin and her two daughters, Nettie Lenore and April Skye, who reside in Georgia.  There will be a celebration of life for her at the American Legion at 105 Hollywood Blvd. in Ft. Walton Beach on Sunday, March 31, 2019 from 2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.  All family and friends are invited to attend to remember her.  Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed online at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com

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