Joanna Cato

CATO , Joanna Joanna Hauk Cato died Wednesday July 30, 2008 at Coastal Hospice by the Lake. She was born November 28, 1916, the daughter of Una Belle Isbill and Willie Carlisle Hauk in McGregor, Texas, and was raised and educated in Texas. Mrs. Cato was preceded in death in 1997 by her husband, Elliot Temple Cato, whom she married in 1937 in Norfolk, Virginia. She is survived by her daughter, Joanna C. Abercrombie, and her husband, Michael G. Abercrombie, of Salisbury, and her daughter Mary Ellen C. Stark Hanson of Salisbury. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Glenn A. Cook, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Michael G. Abercrombie, Jr., Salisbury, Leslie A. Noland, Fairfield, Connecticut, and Heather S. Noyes, Baltimore, Maryland. Also surviving are ten great grandchildren. She leaves many beloved friends and relatives in Texas. In her last years she made many new friends, both residents and staff, while at Lakeside Assisted Living. Mrs. Cato was well known in garden club circles. She was a past president and honorary member of Town and Country Garden Club of Salisbury and a long time member of Somerset County Garden Club. A Master Flower Show Judge (emeritus), she served on the executive board of The Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc for 14 years, six of them as scholarship chairman. She was a Maryland Federation Life Member and a Life Member of National Council of State Garden Clubs. A daffodil enthusiast, she was a Judge and Life Member of The American Daffodil Society. At 80 she was honored to have a design published in Nation Council's "Vision of Beauty Calendar" as she continued judging and exhibiting. In 1998 she was chosen to receive the Award of Honor for District I of the Maryland Federation. After moving to Salisbury from Norfolk in 1946 Mrs. Cato joined Asbury United Methodist church. She later became the first editor of the monthly publication, The Asburian in 1957. A former member of the Junior Auxilary Board of PRMC, she became one of the first editors of The Junior Board Jabber. She was a member of Kiwanis-Wives for years. With a long interest in Bridge, she was a member of the American Contract Bridge League. She was a charter member of Green Hill Yacht and Country Club. Travel was greatly enjoyed from the time she was a small child, spending time with her loving relatives after her mother died in 1919. Mrs. Cato and her husband were fortunate to have made many trips worldwide with friends and family.
Funeral services will be held at Asbury United Methodist Church on Monday, August 4, 2008 at 11:00 am. Friends may call an hour before the service. The Reverend Glenn P. Catley Jr will officiate. Interment will be in Parsons Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be sent to Asbury United Methodist Church, 1401 Camden Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21801 or to the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland, Inc. 1105A Providence Road, Baltimore, MD 21286 Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, PA, 501 Snow Hill Rd., Salisbury, MD 21804. Please visit www.hollowayfh.com to express condolences to the family.