Katie Lou Fox, 91, of Statesville, N.C., passed away peacefully at her daughter and son-in-law’s home, in Elkin, N.C., on January 1, 2026.

She was born in Iredell County to Jason and Irene Hobbs Fox on January 24, 1934, the third of six children. She attended and graduated at 17 years of age from Cool Springs School.

Growing up on a farm, she helped with daily chores such as milking cows, gathering eggs, gardening and always helping dad Jason. After school Katie, brother David, sister O’Neal and mom and dad headed to the cotton field to pick cotton.

In 1953 she married Clyde R. Bunton and a daughter Debra Kay was born to them in 1956.

She was employed at Beauty Maid Mills as a seamstress in the quality control department with a lingerie designer in the sample department. In the early 1980s she opened a Merle Norman and Bridal Boutique with her daughter Debra Darnell. They soon added ladies fashion and accessories at The Fox’s Den – Merle Norman. Soon after she worked at Corner Hutch Furniture as a sales associate and floor display decorator.

Katie enjoyed traveling. She has been as far south as Florida and Texas, where she toured the Alamo, and as far north as New York, where she toured New York City.

She was a member of Gospel Tabernacle and Oakdale Baptist, where she was a youth group leader and taught young people Sunday School, taught young married ladies and led activities. She was a Girl Scout leader for 10 years and took scouts to Savannah, Ga., to visit the birthplace of the founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde R Bunton; and siblings, David A. Fox (Martha), Mary O’neal Fox Frye (Woodrow), Sylvia Ann Fox (Sue), and Goble (Cody).

Katie is survived by her only child, Debra Kay Bunton Darnell (Garland); two grandsons, Jason Darnell (Danielle) and Michael Darnell; brother, Paul T. Fox; and sister, Linda Carol Fox Lackey.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contribution be made to Mt. Valley Hospice Attn: Finance, PO Box 325, Dobson, NC 27017 or mountainvalleycares.org Phone: 888-789-2922.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Nicholson Funeral Home with Rev. Tony Fox officiating. Burial will follow at New Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends being at 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service.

Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.