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Catherine Burns27 October 1923 - 6 May 2011Obituary | Memorial Service | Photos | MemoriesMemorial Service Home |
I am Josh Batley, one of Kitty's great-nephews. She meant more to me than that — Kitty was someone who felt more like a grandmother. She was always there for me since as far back as I can remember, walking me to Duffer Doo. We had to walk past the ravine and there was a guard rail there, but even though the drop-off was about fifty feet away, she made me stay on the road side so I did not fall in.
Kitty got to our house early, usually by 7, made breakfast for my Dad before he went to work. She enjoyed taking care of other people. If you were sick the blanket had to cover your shoulders or you would get worse. She jammed you in the covers like a little burrito. When she went past my room, she always checked to see if my shoulders were covered.
Kitty was the self-appointed fashion police at our house, well really just for me. I was not to leave the house in ripped jeans, faded clothes or what were people going to think? She would say, "You cannot go out like that. What will people think, coming from a doctor's house?" I did not tell her that when I went out I was not wearing a sign saying I came from a doctor's house. With today's styles I would be under house arrest.
Kitty's cookies were legendary. There was always a massive bucket of frozen cookies in the freezer. My friends liked them that way. If there were ever no cookies on the house, there was a big problem.
She was well known in the subdivision, helping everyone who needed it. Sometimes she took on more than she should have.
If you liked something, Kitty made sure she got it for you. Kitty had an idea that my brother-in-law, Carl, liked Mountain Dew, only because he drank one once when she was around. So Carl got a case of Mountain Dew for Christmas one year.
Friday afternoon there was always a special treat for weekends. When we got home on Friday afternoon there would be a chocolate cake, sweet marie bars, pink mousse, or grasshopper pie. Something special for the weekend that sometimes did not last past Friday afternoon.
My friend, Jeff, came home for lunch with me one day. Kitty was good about bringing home your friends. I said to him. "Oh, you will meet Kitty". When we got in the house, Kitty was nowhere to be seen. Next thing I hear Jeff saying, "here Kitty, Kitty."
Jeff liked a different type of cookie and Kitty made them especially for him. That's the kind of person she was. He also liked honey sandwiches and Kitty made sure there was a honey sandwich for Jeff when he came.
I liked to get Kitty excited because I knew she would say the craziest things like "Holy Doodles", "Jeepers Man, how could you be so stupid" or "You're acting like a jackass."
When we stayed overnight at Kitty's we could see the drive-in from her window. The only problem was she was a huge snorer so you did not get any sleep.
Kitty was special — she took very good care of Jen and me. She never complained, ironed everything from socks to underwear. She was an extraordinary woman and will be greatly missed.
There's just one last thing I want to say about Kitty: she was the best!