Katherine (Katy) Elizabeth Denton-Niedecken, 34, born in Galveston (BOI) on December 20, 1988, one of the most beautiful, kindest, thoughtful, and giving individuals in the world, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, November 12, 2023. Her impact on everyone she ever met was felt with sunshine and love, especially the less fortunate and those in need.

Katy graduated from the University of Houston-Clear Lake with a degree of Bachelor of Science in early childhood development in 2016. Katy enjoyed athletics including track, volleyball, softball, and varsity soccer. She loved the ocean, being in the water and on boats, and her many trips to Tennessee with family and friends. She especially loved teaching young children more than anything. Katy enjoyed her work at the Duck Tours in Galveston, meeting new people and impacting everyone with her sun-bright radiance and compassion.

She taught young children at Christian schools with such eagerness to both teach and learn. She traveled to many countries abroad and had the privilege of teaching Bushmen children in Namibia (Africa). Having taught a preschool class at a private daycare for many years this gave her the experience and confidence in her teaching abilities and methods, and she introduced similar practices to the children in Africa. Upon arrival at the school in Namibia, there was a wide age gap of student ages ranging from three to nine, she developed lesson plans to benefit all age groups. She was able to use a critical component of her college education that included how to improvise and adapt to different classroom situations. As Katy said many times, "Volunteering at the school changed my life."

Katy is survived by her husband, Justin Niedecken, and his parents (Jenell and Jeff Niedecken) and their children and great-grandchildren. She loved her family to the fullest degree, her parents, Winston Garth Denton Jr. and Dr. Elizabeth Scott-Denton; her brother, Winston Garth Denton, III and his wife Rebecca Rubio Denton and her parents, Jesse and Stacey Rubio; her grandmother Rachel Bradford Elkins Killebrew, her grandfather James Clyde Killebrew, her cousins Sarah Hoover, Cade Hoover, Luke Hoover, Lake Kirby, Rayah Kirby Chilcutt, Isabel Kirby and their parents, Freddie and Lesley Hoover, and Bobby and Rachel Kirby and their grandchildren. And her most cherished and loved dog, Tango Denton.

Funeral services will be provided by Carnes Brothers Funeral Home in Galveston, 1201 23rd Street, (409) 765-8080, on Friday, November 17, 2023, at 10:00 am.  Entombment will follow at Grave Memorial Park Mausoleum in Hitchcock. Visitation will occur at the funeral home on Thursday, November 16, 2023, from 5-8 pm.

Brother Bobby Ballard, PM with Tucker Lodge in Galveston, will officiate the service.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Katherine Elizabeth Denton-Niedecken may be sent to Shriners Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas.  Located on the campus of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, 815 Market St, Galveston, TX 77550 (shrinerschildrens.org)