Mary Hance

mscheap@tennessean.com

Longtime Tennessean writer and columnist Catherine Darnell, whose popular "Scene and Heard" and "Cat in the Hat" social columns appeared in the newspaper's Living Section until 2002, died this week at her home in Allensville, Ky.

Darnell, 65, who grew up in Todd County, Ky. and studied at Austin Peay State University, served as the Tennessean's society reporter and wrote a popular gardening column. During her 25-year tenure at The Tennessean, she also covered the Tennessee Capitol, breaking news and feature stories.

Known for her engaging columns' rural, small-town wit and "mama and them" colloquialisms, she was an unlikely choice for the newspaper's high society scribe position.

But by incorporating her considerable people skills, quick sense of humor, strong reporting and a unique — and snappy — writing style, she took on "Nashville Society," covering more than 20 Swan Balls as well as countless other social events in Nashville.

"Catherine was Nashville's own, 'Hedda Hopper,'" said her friend Bell Lowe Newton. "She changed the Nashville social scene forever with her Sunday columns. More than that, she was a brilliant writer, strong woman and good friend."

Frank Sutherland, who was the Tennessean's editor during Darnell's years in the newsroom, said her society columns "would often poke fun at and irritate Nashville's elite, not because the stories she told were untrue but because she found out about them and published them.

"Some labeled her columns 'gossip,' but they were well read and talked about incessantly, especially in Belle Meade. Her attendance at parties was a sign of success for the host," he said.

"While Catherine was primarily known to readers as the Cat in the Hat, she wore many hats at the newspaper over the years. She was a hard-working reporter and thoughtful editor. Her versatility was valued by her colleagues, and her commitment as a journalist served her readers well."

When she left the Tennessean in June 2002, to get married and leave Nashville, The Nashville Scene wrote: "In her decade-long reign as the city’s top disseminator of idle gossip, Darnell angered more than her share of uptight socialites, but her playful sense of humor endeared her to everyone else whose party invitation was lost in the mail."

Arrangements are being handled by Todd County Funeral Home in Elkton, Kentucky. The family asked that donations be made in Catherine's name to the Logan County Humane Society's No Kill Animal Shelter. The family is planning a public graveside service in November at the Charles Nickell Memorial Cemetery in Centerville, Tenn.

Reach Mary Hance at 615-259-8282 or mhance@tennessean.com.