Katherine Whitney Caron 1912 ~ 2012 Katherine Whitney Caron, 100 of Boise passed away May 20, 2012 peacefully at her home. She was born January 17th, 1912 in Boise, Idaho to Maybelle Grace Burnside and Howard Whitney. She was educated in Boise schools, graduating from Boise High. A short business machine career placed her in the C.C. Anderson Company's unit control office. It was at C.C. Anderson's where she met her future husband, Harvey Caron. Soon after their marriage, Harvey was appointed manager of the new C.C. Anderson store in Twin Falls, Idaho. In 1934, the Caron's were asked to join the F.A. Buttrey Company department store, a chain, with headquarters in Havre, Montana. It was during this time that Katherine's interest in fashion and merchandising was piqued. They loved Havre, but less than three years later, the Caron's were asked to re-join the C.C. Anderson office in New York City, with a promise of ultimately returning to Boise. In New York City, Katherine's interest in the fashion business continued and she spent much time in the markets with the New York office buyers. Returning to Boise in 1939, she was asked to become the fashion buyer for the C.C. Anderson chain. Soon after returning to Boise, the Caron's purchased the Spaulding Farm on Cole Road, seemingly bidding goodbye to friends and associates, as Cole Road in 1940 was considered well on the way to Portland. In the 1950s, they made several extensive trips to Europe via the great liners, the original Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, the Isle de France and U.S.S. United States, carrying their American cars aboard ship with them. After a few years of farm life, interest in merchandising still prevailed and they experienced together the opposite end of retailing as wholesalers "on the road", enjoying travel and antiquing. Katherine continued to live on the farm after Harvey's death in 1982. She "fought City Hall" to maintain the property's establishment as a working farm and eventually registered the property on the National Historic Register. Katherine was the first elected president of the "Women of Rotary" clubs in Boise, a member of Les Bois Questers, Antiques, and St. Alphonsus Auxiliary Catholic Women's League. The Caron's were lifelong members of Hillcrest Country Club. She was preceded in death by her most beloved Harvey, her parents, and two sisters. She is survived by godchildren, nieces and nephews, and greats. Her niece, Marilynn Tinkham and family, have been her closest relatives and have always affectionately called her "Aunt Ky". Katherine recently celebrated 100 years young and has been a support and inspiration to many. Her smile, positive outlook and spirit lives on in those she loved. A memorial mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Friday, May 25, 2012 at St. Mark's Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Crohn & Colitis Foundation, the St. Mark's Building Fund, or
. To share memories with the family please visit Katherine's memorial webpage at www.cloverdalefuneralhome.com
Published in Idaho Statesman on May 23, 2012
