Virginia town reeling over sudden death of beloved radio star

A popular radio host broadcasting to central Virginia died over the weekend, leaving longtime listeners and friends heartbroken.

Kat Simons, known for her unending love for animals, was a mainstay host on Richmond's 98.1, her voice on air from 10 am to 3pm on weekdays for over 25 years. 

The radio station announced her death on Saturday, describing her as 'a cherished friend' and 'a comforting presence.'

'It is with profound sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved Kat Simons,' the station's Facebook post read.

There was no mention of how she died, but tributes to her poured in from the many people whose lives she touched in one way or another.

Radio host Kat Simons, known for her commitment to animal rescue causes, died over the weekend from an unknown cause

Longtime Richmond radio personality Melissa Chase called Simons  'the mom for women in radio.'

'Women in radio, we just got together all the time to make sure that we were taking care of each other because it was definitely a boys' club when we first got started,' Chase told CBS Richmond.

Simons 'supported us in so many ways,' she added.

Simons grew up on a farm in West Virginia, where her affection for animals began.

'This love grew into a lifelong commitment to charity work, supporting local rescue groups and serving as Vice President of Richmond Hero,' her radio station wrote.

The most famous segment on her show was called 'Pet of the Day,' where she would partner with local shelters and help try to find stray pets loving homes. 

She also had pets of her own: a dog named Stevie and multiple cats. 

Simons grew up on a farm in West Virginia, where her affection for animals began

The most famous segment on her show was called 'Pet of the Day,' where she would partner with local shelters and help try to find stray pets loving homes

Simons was often an emcee at local charity events - many unrelated to animals - routinely helping raise thousands of dollars for various causes.

She worked with over a dozen charities, including the VA, the Alzheimer's Association, and the Diabetes Association just to name a few.

'She freely gave of her time and resources, surprising many with random acts of kindness, monetary gifts, gift cards, and thoughtful birthday cards,' the station described. 

Virginia This Morning co-host Bill Bevins worked with Simons for years and said he'll remember her for how much she cared for people.

'You could tell it was the real thing to the point where some people would say, nobody's that nice,' he said. 'But she was. She absolutely was.' 

'She was like a one-person Red Cross. ... If you think of somebody who needs help, whether it's an animal or a person, then Kat will come to mind.'

Melissa Golden, Vice President of Richmond-based Henrico Humane Society, said she listened to Simon on the radio long before becoming a close friend of hers through their animal rescue work.

Longtime Richmond radio personality Melissa Chase, pictured, called Simons 'the mom for women in radio'

Melissa Golden, pictured, is the vice president of Richmond-based Henrico Humane Society. She and Simons were close friends and worked together on rescuing stray animals

Golden hosted Simons at her nonprofit's annual Pet Expo for 15 years in a row, and also joined her on the radio a number of times.

'You never felt like it was an interview with Kat,' Golden told CBS Richmond. 'It felt like a conversation.' 

'She’s an institution. I grew up here. And before there was Pandora and Sirius, there was just the radio. 

'It was a big deal to listen to Kat Simons on Lite 98.'

True to form, Simons' last Instagram post was one of her pets of the day. This time, it was a Pitbull mix named Zub Zero who 'thrives on hooman companionship.'

'This well-mannered boy is as friendly as can be, always ready to make new friends with his social and outgoing personality...and is sure to bring so much joy to your home,' she wrote in mid-June.

Pictured: Kat Simons' final Instagram post, where she tries to get her listeners to adopt this Pitbull mix named Zub Zero

The station's mournful announcement was flooded with comments from avid listeners to Simons, charities she worked with and people gushing over the times they met her in person.

'I just saw her and spoke with her Food Lion just 2 days ago! I am so sad. Every interaction I had with her was so great. She was always smiling and had a gentle soul,' one person wrote.

So many others said they'd miss calling in to her show to request songs.

But the overwhelming sentiment was that she was a uniquely positive and generous force in the Richmond community.

'She was a constant companion, whether at work or at home. Her presence was always a continual source of comfort and pleasure,' her radio colleagues wrote.

'Thank you for everything, Kat.'