Catherine Hayes Katz's Obituary
Catherine Hayes Katz was born on October 22, 1942 in Vidalia, Georgia to William H. and the late Effie Bryant Hayes.?áThe family moved to Detroit, MI in 1944.?áCatherine was educated in the Detroit Public Schools System and graduated from Cass Technical High School. With her lovely singing voice Catherine was?áactive in the Young Adult Choir at Hartford Memorial?áBaptist Church.?áShe accepted Christ at the age of 10 and as an adult continued in services to the churches where she was a member.?áActive membership to Catherine always included being part of a choir.?áIn Columbia, MD at the Columbia Baptist Fellowship Church and lately at the McGregor Baptist Church of Fort Myers, FL, the choir has been an integral part of her praise and worship of the Lord. Catherine was a devoted mother and loving wife.?áHer daughter Cynthia Jean Smith preceded her in death.?áShe was a faithful caregiver for a number of years to her late husband, Norbert Katz.?áIn part, the love for her son, ?áRichard Edwin Smith prompted her move from Maryland to Fort Myers, FL.?áA special bond of love, trust and friendship existed between Catherine and her son.?áWith her two sisters support, Catherine moved their father, William H. Hayes to Fort Myers to be close to her and her son. Catherine was a very creative person who loved to knit and quilt and her family and friends benefitted from her largess.?áAlways eager to learn and improve her skills she enrolled in advanced knitting classes.?áShe had plans to sell her signature knitted scarves to boutiques in New York City.?áAn avid traveler, Catherine visited many ports of call in Europe, the Caribbean and the Middle East (Israel). In her professional life Catherine employed by the Internal Revenue Service as a GS17 Senior Director.?áRecognizing the value of education, as a mature student, Catherine received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola College of Baltimore and a Masters in Administration Services from John Hopkins University.?áWhile employed by the IRS, Catherine received many awards of merit and certificates of distinction.?áIn recognition of her superior skills as an administrator, the IRS sent her to study at Syracuse University where she was awarded The Public Administration Midcareer Development Program Certificate. Upon relocating to Fort Myers, FL, never one to sit still, Catherine was employed by Starbucks as a barista, where she made many new friends and touched many lives.?áCatherine stated this move to Fort Myers would be her last move on this earth and that her next move would be moving on to glory.?áCatherine made her transition on that next move on Tuesday, May 17, 2011. She leaves to rejoice in her legacy and cherish her memory;?áson, Richard E. Smith (Debra Lamb); father, William H. Hayes; ?ásisters, Jean?áE. (James) Johnson, Robin L. Bryant-Hayes; nieces, Kalyn (Todd) Chandler, Kendell (Jason) Brown, Hope Rugemalira; great niece and nephew, Jada and Jared Brown;?á?áaunts, Mary (George) Turner, Eunice Phillips, Coreen (Lawrence) Jones, Lucile (Morris) Biggs, Claudean Jackson, Vedia Kaye Hayes;?áuncles, Tommie Lee Douglas and Sylvester Hayes; Sister-in-law, Marilyn Fink; brother-in-law, Lawrence (Rona) Katz;?ágod-daughter, Tiffany Scott and a host of cousins, friends and other relatives. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 11:00AM at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in Ft. Myers, FL.?áEntombment will follow in Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
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