Cathrin Williams

FESTUS, Mo. -- Cathrin Mae Jenkerson Williams, 84, of Festus entered heaven Tuesday, June 7, 2022.

The date holds special meaning as it was also Cathrin's late mother's birthday. Cathrin was just 13 when her mother passed, and her family can only imagine the great celebration they had at this reunion. Cathrin died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren.

Cathrin was born Oct. 7, 1937, in St. Louis, the daughter of the late Mayme Oberhelman Sperry and Joseph Jenkerson.

Cathrin loved all things pink! God sends signs of her every time He sends a cotton-candy sunset. Cathrin was extremely proud of her children and grandchildren and all their accomplishments. Cathrin had family photos everywhere with numerous newspaper clippings about them taped and tacked up on all her walls. She loved receiving greeting cards and sending them with the most heartfelt inscriptions. The card was always more important to her than any gift, and you were in the doghouse if you failed to send a card for any special occasion. Cathrin enjoyed playing games, especially cards and dice. Family get-togethers always involved food and lots of games. To her enjoyment and her family's, the last days of her life were filled with numerous games of 10,000 Dice, Yahtzee, pass the trash and Pokeno.

She is survived by eight children, Dawn (the late Ellis) Turnbough of Davisville, Missouri, Daniel (Okye) Keeney of Peyton, Colorado, Dwayne Keeney of Hillsboro, Missouri, Darryl (Lynn) Keeney of Pevely, Missouri, Donna Denson of Cape Girardeau, Nicole Pyles of Moore, Oklahoma, Batina Johnson of Festus and Cathy (Jerry) Stanfill of Festus; 21 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Cathrin was preceded in death by two brothers, Harry Jenkerson and Forrest Bridger.

The family will host a private celebration of life in Hermann, Missouri, beginning on Cathrin's would-have-been-85th birthday Oct. 7. Cathrin will be laid to rest alongside other late family members Oct. 8 at St. James Evangelical Cemetery at Big Spring, Missouri.

Memorials may be made to St. James Evangelical Cemetery, 746 S. Highway 19, Big Spring, MO 63363.

Arrangements were under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus.