Natalie Marie (McCleskey) Katz

Funeral services for Natalie Marie (McCleskey) Katz, 43, of San Antonio, formerly of Lufkin, will be held Sunday, December 28, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Keith Jones and Brother Trey Ainsworth officiating. Interment will follow in Largent Cemetery. In honor of Natalie, the family would love for everyone to wear black or gold.

Natalie was born August 5, 1982 in Lufkin, Texas, and died Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at her residence.

Natalie (McCleskey) Katz grew up in Lufkin, Texas, where her vibrant spirit, quick wit, and love for people made her a cherished daughter, sister, and friend. She graduated from Hudson High School in 2000 and earned a degree in finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2004.

Natalie deeply loved her family and friends and found joy in being together - whether through travel, shared meals, celebrations, or simple moments of laughter. Her passport, filled with stamps from around the world, reflected her adventurous spirit, but it was the relationships she built that mattered most to her. She especially loved the beach, golf, reading, great food, and discovering new experiences.

With a background in finance, Natalie focused her professional life on investments and real estate. She was independent, thoughtful, and driven in her work.

Natalie was known for her warmth, generosity, and ability to make people feel welcome and at ease. She adored her fur babies, especially her Boston Terrier, Poppy, and had a well-known love for style, spicy food, and laughter. She gave back to her community by volunteering with the San Antonio food pantry and by supporting families in need during the Christmas season.

Natalie will be remembered for her infectious laugh, her generous heart, and the love she shared so freely with her family and friends.

Survivors include her fur baby, Poppy; mother, Lisa (Loving) Baker of Lufkin; father and stepmother, Russell and Annette McCleskey; sister and brother-in-law, Nichole and Trey Pollock of Seguin; stepsister and stepbrother, Brian Hemphill and Stephanie Hemphill, both of Lufkin; nephew and fiancée, Gage O’Neill and Emily Burt; niece, Abigail Pollock; nephew, Dalton Pollock; grandmother, Jean Rudd; numerous aunts, uncles and other relatives; and best friends, Amanda and Kasey Johnson, and Ashley Price-Fisher.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Roy Rudd; paternal grandparents, Hilton McCleskey and Janet Catchings; and aunts, Debby Loving and Debbie Peterson.

Pallbearers will be Trey Pollock, Dalton Pollock, Gage O’Neill, Troy McCleskey, Drew Russ, Kasey Johnson, Luke Temple, and Zach Temple.

Honorary pallbearers will be Stanley Temple, Joe McCleskey, Brian Hemphill, Tim West, Tony Katz, and Steve Williams.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed, at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.