CATHERINE RUTH HAWLEY
1927-2023
Catherine Ruth Hoover, one of three children of Donald E. and Opal (Carver) Hoover, was born November 9, 1927, on a farm near Fall River, Kansas. Her family moved to Nebraska, and she graduated from Brock High School in 1945.
On March 5, 1946, Catherine was married to Glendon Dwight Hawley in Seneca, Kansas. Their first home was in Brock, and in 1963 they moved to the Hawley family farm near Brock. Their union was blessed with five children: Carol, Sammy, Helen, John, and Charles.
In addition to her duties in the house and raising the children, Catherine took a big role in the duties on the farm. She had also worked at the sewing factory in Auburn, Nebraska and at one time served as a cook in a truck stop.
Catherine was a member of the Brock United Methodist Church and the Brock Kensington Club. She loved feeding and watching birds and tended to many flowers around the house.
Family was always very important to Catherine, and she loved attending school activities involving them or just spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed sewing clothes for her children when they were young and baby clothes for her grands and greats.
Her husband Dwight passed away in 2013, but Catherine made it clear she intended to stay in their rural Brock home, even as her health declined. With the help of her family and health professionals, she did just that. Catherine passed away at home, with family around her, on Friday, February 24, 2023, at the age of 95 years, 3 months, and 15 days. Besides Dwight and her parents, she was preceded by her son Sammy and her grandchildren Melissa and Thomas Jeanneret.
Among the many who remember Catherine with love are her children Carol (Robert) Schmucker of Lincoln, Helen (John) Jeanneret of Johnson, John (Nancy) Hawley of Auburn, Charles (Janet) Hawley of Brock; grandchildren Jan Jeanneret, Angela (Ted) Hetzel, Sara (Brian) Moody, Eric (Holly) Hawley, Aron (Jennifer) Hawley, Cody (Melissa) Hawley, Katy (Guy) Cipolla; 21 great-grandchildren; brother Donald Hoover of Topeka, KS; sister Ann (Jack) Dick of Tecumseh, KS; sister-in-law Connie Clark of Sun Lakes AZ; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at Brock United Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Tom Earhart. Deanne Gerking played accompaniment for a congregational hymn and Don Hoover was soloist. Eric Hawley, Aron Hawley, Cody Hawley, Ted Hetzel, Brian Moody, and Guy Cipolla served as casket bearers. Honorary Bearers were Dave Piper, Steve Bowen, Bob Teten, Ron “Tiny” Gerdes, Paul Chatelain, Leroy Meyer, Mike Hoover, Scott Magnuson, and Teresa Walker. Serving as flower attendants were Alicia Blex, Susie Robinson, and Jere Gravatt. Presentation of birds by Jan Jeanneret, Angela Hetzel, Sara Moody, Katy Cipolla, Holly Hawley, Jennifer Hawley, and Melissa Hawley. Burial followed in Clifton Cemetery near Brock.