1954-2021

I have just learned of the passing of Warner family member Cathy Coleman this past June. It is with great sadness that I share the news with all of you.

CATHERINE COLEMAN Catherine Ann Coleman, 67, died June 23, 2021 surrounded by loved ones. A resident of Las Vegas since 1988, Cathy grew up in Michigan, the third of five children and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1972. After receiving her Associate Degree from Schoolcraft Community College, she continued her studies in social work at Central Michigan University. She followed her dreams of “living out west” and moved to Colorado Springs, CO in 1976, working in the healthcare industry. Her love of art and beauty led to a career change and moving to Las Vegas. Working in retail consulting, Cathy was able to cultivate this love in both the jewelry and clothing sectors. Her love and compassion for others survives today through her loving husband, Richard Thayer of Las Vegas; her brothers, Kevin Crudder of Cambridge, MA, Sean Crudder of Guernville, CA; and sister in law, Pamela Klopfenstein of Waterford, MI. Services will be held privately. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Las Vegas Review-Journal, June. 26, 2021 (also available on DignityMemorial.com)

Born in Michigan on March 20, 1954, Catherine Ann “Cathy” Crudder was the daughter of Warner William Crudder (1920-1975) and Beverly Maude Howard (1925-1992).

She was the granddaughter of Maud Warner (1893-1952) and Henry Albert Crudder (1990-1935), the great granddaughter of William James Warner (1857-1929) and Anna Elizabeth Otto (1865-1948), the great great granddaughter of our shared ancestors James Warner (1837-1909) and Margaret Ann Quinn (1837-1915), and the great great great granddaughter of William Warner and Sarah Leitch.

Catherine at sixteen: 1970 Yearbook of Plymouth High School in Plymouth, Michigan (the photo has been digitally restored)
Catherine in a photo shared on Facebook in June 2013 (the photo has been digitally restored)

A Personal Note

Although we are distant cousins (third cousins to be precise), and we never actually met in person, Cathy and I became quite close during some of the last years of her life.

Of all the Warner family members I’ve been in touch with over the years, Cathy was almost certainly the most enthusiastic and excited about my family research.

After I identified her as a possible cousin, we connected on Facebook in December of 2015. She was thrilled. She told me that she had always wondered about her ancestors, but her parents had both died when she was quite young and she never really asked them about the family’s past, something that she deeply regretted.

Dearest Paul~ Thank-you for everything!! I feel so lucky to have such a kind & caring soul like you in my family! You have spent & shared your time with me & filled a void that I myself, had wanted to do but I felt I’d waited too long & everyone is now passed on! I even felt guilty not doing research or even asking questions when my folks were alive!! Boy, oh boy though I DO know this… they would have loved you! And so do I Paul, for taking the time to care & share this info and for filling the void! I really feel more complete (& guilt free)!!

Catherine Coleman, in a Facebook Messenger Chat, March 10, 2017

Cathy was especially grateful to hear a number of family stories, and see a number of family photos, that she thought had been lost forever. For me, knowing her, and sharing her joy, has been one of the high points of all this family history stuff.

My wife Ruth and I flew from Toronto to Las Vegas in 2017 to meet Cathy and her husband, Richard, but it turned out that they both came down with a severe case of the flu and we weren’t able to get together. It was a sad letdown at the time, felt even more keenly now.