Cathleen and I were best friends after I moved in with my Aunt Mary and Uncle Bill in Havelock at Christmas break of our senior year. Her Dad and my uncle both worked at Goodyear and we lived only a block from one another. We stayed close for a few years after high school. I and my former husband Jim attended her wedding at Grace Methodist when she married Sid Smart. She and another friend gave my baby shower before Lara, my only child, was born in 1969. She and Sid moved to Illinois later for his job at State Farm. We lost touch for many years, but my uncle would give me little updates that her Dad shared. She and Sid had one daughter, Catherine. Cathleen and I saw each other at the LHS 25th reunion (if I remember WHICH it was!!) Also, I heard from her one time when she came to Lincoln. Then in April 2000 I got a letter from her and she had late stage cancer. I called her the day I received it and we talked for a LONG time. Then Don and I drove to Oklahoma City the next weekend to visit her, Catherine, and her husband Greg Seamans. [I am not sure when she and Sid divorced but she was "Cathleen Seamans" for about 10 years I think.] It was as though there had never been any lost years in between!! I brought her a teddy bear to hug as a memory of me when I wasn't there which she cherished Greg and Catherine said. We kept in contact by phone and email. She sent me an invitation to the "Celebration of Art and Life" at the cancer center in OKC just to 'let me know', but my daughter Lara, granddaughters Kirsten and Felicia, and I surprised her and drove to OKC for the celebration and they all got to know her and her family who came. I have 2 prints of her beautiful paintings. We were going again when Greg let me know Hospice said she had less than a week, but she died before we left, so Lara, I and the girls went for her memorial service. She died August 1 (or 2?), 2000. She was deeply religious. Catherine gave me back the bear, but I gave it to Greg since my daughter had given me a bear for Christmas 1984 after my divorce and that poor bear slept with me for the next 3 years and was pretty worn out!! Greg reported that he appreciated it greatly!
Cheryl, Those are wonderful, touching memories you shared of Cathleen. I didn't really know her personally as you did, but I do remember her. Thanks for sharing this with the rest of us.
Cheryl May Mooney (Steckelberg)
Cathleen and I were best friends after I moved in with my Aunt Mary and Uncle Bill in Havelock at Christmas break of our senior year. Her Dad and my uncle both worked at Goodyear and we lived only a block from one another. We stayed close for a few years after high school. I and my former husband Jim attended her wedding at Grace Methodist when she married Sid Smart. She and another friend gave my baby shower before Lara, my only child, was born in 1969. She and Sid moved to Illinois later for his job at State Farm. We lost touch for many years, but my uncle would give me little updates that her Dad shared. She and Sid had one daughter, Catherine. Cathleen and I saw each other at the LHS 25th reunion (if I remember WHICH it was!!) Also, I heard from her one time when she came to Lincoln. Then in April 2000 I got a letter from her and she had late stage cancer. I called her the day I received it and we talked for a LONG time. Then Don and I drove to Oklahoma City the next weekend to visit her, Catherine, and her husband Greg Seamans. [I am not sure when she and Sid divorced but she was "Cathleen Seamans" for about 10 years I think.] It was as though there had never been any lost years in between!! I brought her a teddy bear to hug as a memory of me when I wasn't there which she cherished Greg and Catherine said. We kept in contact by phone and email. She sent me an invitation to the "Celebration of Art and Life" at the cancer center in OKC just to 'let me know', but my daughter Lara, granddaughters Kirsten and Felicia, and I surprised her and drove to OKC for the celebration and they all got to know her and her family who came. I have 2 prints of her beautiful paintings. We were going again when Greg let me know Hospice said she had less than a week, but she died before we left, so Lara, I and the girls went for her memorial service. She died August 1 (or 2?), 2000. She was deeply religious. Catherine gave me back the bear, but I gave it to Greg since my daughter had given me a bear for Christmas 1984 after my divorce and that poor bear slept with me for the next 3 years and was pretty worn out!! Greg reported that he appreciated it greatly!
Karis Geier (Loos)
Cheryl, Those are wonderful, touching memories you shared of Cathleen. I didn't really know her personally as you did, but I do remember her. Thanks for sharing this with the rest of us.