Catherine Joyce Smith, 81, of Kalamazoo, died peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 5, at home.
She was born on April 24,1944, in Plainwell, to the late Richard and Ruth Oetman.
Cathy was an active member of Martin United Methodist Church and the Methodist NOMADS. She enjoyed chatting with anyone, telling stories, and loved hearing jokes. Cathy graduated from Martin High School in 1963. She went on to be a cosmetologist and then moved on to working for Parchment School District where she retired.
A devoted wife and mother, Cathy dedicated her life to her family. Cathy is survived by her current husband David Smith Sr., her children: Bonnie (Scott) Maschke, Anthony Verhage, and Jane (Steven) Clark; her stepchildren: David Smith Jr and Diane (Larry) Lombardo; her grandchildren: Johnathan Clark, Matthew Clark, and Maxwell Maschke, and her brother, Bill Oetman.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, John Verhage, and her siblings Eddie Oetman, Mary Jean Schnicke, Joan Horton, and Aileen Rose.
Visitation with family and friends will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home; 120 S. Woodhams St. Plainwell. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m Friday, Oct. 10, at the same location.
