Katherine Currie Tuggle Neil

Katherine Currie Tuggle Neil, known to all as Kitty, joined the heavenly choir on January 13, 2026, after a long and full life. She was born June 16, 1931, in Carthage, NC the second child of  Elizabeth Woltz and Wilbur Hoke Currie. In 1957, Kitty married Harry Irvine Tuggle, Jr. of Martinsville, Virginia and had three daughters. In addition, she shared much of her life with her 7 siblings – lovingly known as the “Basic 8” and their families.

Music was the great love of Kitty’s life. It started with family singing at a young age, continued with chorus at Salem Academy, a voice major at Agnes Scott College, and led to a Masters in Choral Conducting at Westminster Choir College. She chose being a church musician over a professional singing career and was a Minister of Music at First United Methodist Church (twice) in Martinsville, VA, First Presbyterian Church (twice) in Martinsville, VA, First Baptist Church in Danville, VA, Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church in Bassett, VA and Black Mountain Presbyterian Church in Black Mountain, NC.

Kitty had a marvelous soprano voice but also had a huge gift for teaching and encouraging other musicians. In Martinsville, she was well known for her inspiring Christmas and other concerts, in which she conducted and served as soprano soloist. She also taught music at the college level and in her private studio, directed numerous community choruses, formed and led several groups, the most beloved of which were the Martinsville Singing Men and the Stoneleigh Singers. She often appeared as a soprano soloist including with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. Kitty sang with the Asheville Choral Society as well. Family and friends remember her most for her beautiful renditions of “O Holy Night” and “The Lord’s Prayer.” Kitty would say two of her most treasured moments were singing “Ye Now Are Sorrowful” from Brahms’ German Requiem at the WMU Conference in Ridgecrest in 1975 and closing the Montreat production of “Take A Hike” with a heartfelt rendition of “Climb Every Mountain” in 2008. Kitty attended the first Music Conference held at Montreat Conference Center and was a charter member of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. She enjoyed the Worship and Music Conferences as they came to be called, often hosting groups in her home.

Entertaining was also a passion for Kitty. She was a great cook (especially her biscuits and fudge) and loved a party.  Kitty loved to celebrate birthdays – especially her own! She enjoyed a good competitive game of bridge and was a lifetime lover of flowers, stemming from Harry’s passion for daffodils. Kitty’s home on Shenandoah was site for many Rainbow Ridge neighborhood gatherings over the years.

Also, in Montreat, she hosted events for the Montreat Conference Center Development Foundation Board, of which she was an emeritus member. Kitty and husband Bob Neil served on the Board for Ukraine’s Music Mission Kiev. They helped bring the Kiev choir and orchestra to perform in Montreat, most recently in 2023. This organization continues to make a difference serving in the Ukraine helping widows and orphans.

Kitty had much love and affection for her extended family. On summer nights in Montreat you might find her at a sing-along on a family porch. Her siblings and their families were very important to her. For many years, she sent birthday cards to siblings and spouses and the nieces and nephews that make up the Currie Family in addition to those closest to her.

In her immediate family, she is survived by husband of 22 years, Bob Neil, and daughters Lynn Tuggle Gilliland (Bill) and Katharine Tuggle Echavarri (Bernie.) She adored her grandchildren, Mac Gilliland (Claire), Matthew Gilliland (Emma), and Katalina Echavarri. Her latest joy was her namesake, great-granddaughter Kate Gilliland. She was predeceased by her first husband, Harry Irvine Tuggle, Jr. and her daughter Margaret Irvine Tuggle.

In the Currie family, she was preceded in death by her mother, Elizabeth Woltz Currie, her father, Wilbur Hoke Currie, her stepmother, Margaret Willcox Currie, her sister Elizabeth Currie Shoenfelt, and her brothers John L. Currie and Hoke Currie. She is survived by  sisters Ann Currie McCullough, Ruth Currie, Lynn Currie Wallace (Jim), brother Tom Currie (Ann), and sister-in-law Nancy Currie. Aunt Kitty is also known and loved by her many nieces and nephews.

We will celebrate Kitty’s life on Saturday, February 14 in Montreat, NC. There will be a Service of Witness to the Resurrection at 11am at Montreat Presbyterian Church in Upper Anderson Auditorium led by the Rev. Dr. Keith Grogg and the Rev. Lynn Bledsoe who was  a faithful friend and counselor during these last difficult years. Following the service all are invited to a reception celebrating Kitty. She was so full of love for music and life, we know she will be smiling on us on Valentine’s Day. 

The family wishes to thank the amazing folks at Givens Highland Farms – the Lodge staff, the HomeFirst health staff, and especially the entire staff in HealthCare. They have taken wonderful care of Kitty and Bob for these last several years. We are also grateful to Melody from Four Seasons Palliative Care and the team from Four Seasons Hospice as well as Penland Family Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, gifts to honor Kitty may be sent to the Montreat Conference Center for Currie Craft Center Endowment or to the Katalina Echavarri Fund, established after granddaughter Katalina’s spinal cord injury in February 2025.

 Thank you to all who have shared their thoughts and prayers with our family!

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