OAK ISLAND — Dr. Kathleen Gayle Yonce, 73, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes on March 4, 2024. Born in Corvallis, Oregon, Kathleen grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She remained a devoted and fervent Tar Heel from an early age. Kathleen attended Brown University before completing her BA in Mathematics at UNC-Chapel Hill. She went on to receive both an MEd and PhD in Special Education from the university.
Before earning her advanced degrees, Kathleen taught math to middle and high school students in the Orange County schools. Committed to children’s early learning, she went on to work at UNC’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, including studies of North Carolina’s Smart Start Program. She remained deeply caring about providing children with an early start, and continued volunteering with the Smart Start Program in Brunswick County until her passing. Kathleen was a participating member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the professional society for women educators.
She loved the beach and moved from Chapel Hill to Oak Island 7 years ago, finding peace in her new home along the waterway. Kathleen was not afraid to print large signs that spelled out You Cannot Say All Lives Matter Until Black Lives Matter, installing them on the front porch of her home on the small, conservative island. Kathleen was passionate about justice and, as such, was an active Democrat, working in local politics to educate citizens and get out the vote. She served as Vice Chair of Oak Island’s Precinct 2 Brunswick County Democratic Party; and, as a member of Brunswick County Democratic Women, she served as Chair of the committee that provides education grants to young women.
Her other volunteer work included helping with PORCH NC in Brunswick County, coordinating monthly neighborhood food drives for hunger relief. In addition, she was an avid crocheter and loved to relax by watching Scandinavian vloggers quietly discussing their crocheting methods. Kathleen was an intuitive person who was a nurturer of people and animals. Her love of dogs began when she was young, and continued with unmeasured loyalty to each of her pups.
Kathleen maintained strong ties to Montana where her parents and grandparents were raised. She cherished childhood trips to visit family there. She was dedicated to her son, whom she raised following her divorce, and to her many good friends. Smart, deeply caring, funny, and thoughtful, Kathleen will be missed by all who knew her.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, Mae Yonce and Dr. Lloyd Yonce. She is survived by the apple of her eye, her son Jesse Bernier; her brother, Mark Yonce; and her many cousins in North Carolina, Montana, California, Washington, and Canada.
