Cathryn (Kae) Diane Preston,64, of Pensacola, passed away on Friday, February 6, 2026. She was born on March 4, 1961, in Pensacola. Kae grew up with a deep love for the Gulf Coast and the people who shaped her life. She graduated from Tate High School in 1979 and carried the friendships and memories with her always.

Kae built a remarkable career through her talent, dedication, and creativity. She worked for the city of Pensacola as a Home Inspector, and she was a gifted architect who turned her eye for design into a livelihood - drawing house plans professionally and often creating beautiful custom work for friends and family. Her work was an expression of her generous spirit: she loved helping others create a place to call home.

Outside of work, Kae found joy in the simple and beautiful parts of life. She loved spending peaceful days by the Gulf of Mexico, fishing and soaking in the salt air. She was a wonderful cook - artist in the kitchen- who delighted in preparing meals for friends and making people feel welcome at her table. Her sense of humor, her quick wit, and her big laugh brightened every room she entered. Above all, she was kind, caring, and endlessly thoughtful.

Kae had a special place in her heart for animals. She absolutely adored her pets, especially her dachshunds, and her beloved cat Gracie, who remained her loyal companion.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Richard Anthony Preston and Anne Geeker Preston; her stepmother Connie Grimes Preston; and many cherished aunts and uncles.

Kae is survived by her stepmother, Cheryl Preston; her sister Linda Preston Lethbridge; her aunt Janet Preston Feallock and husband Joe; her nephews Zack, Matthew, and Jacob Lethbridge; her grand nephews and grandnieces Conner, Andrew, Madison, and Christian Lethbridge; and many other relatives who loved her dearly.

In honor of Kae's life-long love of animals and her generous heart, memorial contributions may be made to the Pensacola Humane Society or the American Cancer Society.