Catherine Carol (Peachey) Weaver was
born in Pennsylvania on March 28, 1941, to Louis and Sadie Peachey.
As one of nine children, she grew up on a dairy farm in the beautiful
Kishacoquillas Valley. While her family worked very hard, they also
enjoyed special traditions that she loved, including berry picking in
the mountains, softball, homemade ice cream, visiting the ocean,
reading, baking, singing and festivities for the holidays.
Cathy came to the plains of Kansas to
attend Hesston College, where she met the love of her life, Jerry.
They were married Aug. 3, 1962, and started an almost 60-year journey
together that spanned multiple churches, multiple states, and even
multiple continents. As a preacher?s daughter herself, she never
imagined she would marry a pastor, but she embraced the role and felt
very blessed by the people she met and time she spent in each place.
In her words, ?We were privileged to share in the joys, sorrows and
celebrations and made many friends for a lifetime.? The churches
they were a part of included Yellow Creek (Indiana); Hesston
Mennonite, Whitestone Mennonite, Crystal Springs, Pleasant Valley
(Kansas), and First Mennonite Church in Denver (Colorado). She
particularly loved teaching Sunday School, being part of the women?s
sewing group, and serving on the First Mennonite Church Worship
Committee, where she had the chance to pick out hymns to fit the
scripture for each service.
In addition to the full-time role of
preacher?s wife, Cathy also worked incredibly hard to help support
her family. Some of the roles she held included working as a church
secretary (a role she loved), working at Prairie View, arranging
flowers at Country Gardens (another one of her favorites), and
working the early shift at Druber?s Donut Shop. After the
completion of her Bethel College social work degree much later in
life (something she was very proud of), she worked as a case manager
and manager of homemaker services with the Department of Aging for
Reno County and then, after their move to Denver, also worked as
coordinator in the Alzheimer room at an adult day care and later as a
top salesperson for the Amish Showcase Furniture Store.
Upon their return to Hesston from
Denver, Cathy became an active volunteer. The Villa Partners, Et
Cetera Shop and Kauffman Museum were a few of her favorite
organizations. Spending time with precious friends was also
important, and she enjoyed being part of her book club, her Villa
Bible Study and gadding about with old and new friends alike.
Relationships were incredibly important to her, and she enjoyed each
and every person she had the privilege of connecting with.
Of all her treasures, Cathy?s family
was the most precious. Her three boys and their families meant more
than anything to her, and any time she could spend with the family
was incredibly special. From sharing a meal, playing a card game,
watching KU basketball, to simply walking around the arboretum, there
was nothing better to her than the opportunity to be present with
those she loved.
In recent years, Cathy faced some deep
difficulties, including the illness and death of her beloved husband,
hearing loss, and cancer in her own body. Through it all, Cathy?s
fierce and loving nature burned brightly. She recently wrote, ?I
have known God?s constant presence. Even though things may change,
He is beside me and will be there to the end of my life [?] As long
as I can read [?] work in my garden, enjoy our family [?]
volunteer whenever and wherever help is needed, keep in close touch
with friends, and keep learning [?] these things make life so very
rich!! And so?I?ll keep journeying on.?
Cathy died peacefully at Schowalter
Villa on Sunday morning, July 31, 2022. May the fierce and
unconditional love that Cathy shared through her care for others, her
baked goods, her meals, her cards, her visits, her kind words and her
hugs (that always ?felt? much bigger than her small stature) live
on in all of us.
Cathy was preceded in death by her
parents (Louis and Sadie Peachey), older brother Samuel, and husband
Jerry.
Cathy is survived by seven siblings,
Louis, Sara, Lee, Charity, Ann, Iva, and James and their families;
three sons, David (Emily), Bruce (Lori), and Rick (Jill); six
grandchildren, Miranda (Jamie), Madelyn (Jeff), Matthew (Crystal),
Ashley (Caleb), Kendrick, and Ally; and four great-grandchildren,
Devon, Rowan, Caelynn, and Dawson.
A memorial service for Cathy will be
held at Whitestone Mennonite Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13.
Donations to the Schowalter Villa Good Samaritan Caring Fund can be
made in lieu of flowers.
