Cathy Warner Weatherford

Weatherford, Cathy Warner
Odessa, Florida. Cathy Warner Weatherford, age 63, went to be with the Lord on Sunday morning November 15, 2015, surrounded by her loving family in the comfort of her home. Cathy died young but her time on earth was anything but ordinary, uneventful, or unfinished. Cathy was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, the oldest of six children. Her parents, Ron and Carolyn Warner, were noted community leaders and instilled in Cathy a heart for service. Accomplished in every way, she served as the Senior Class President and Homecoming Queen at Camelback High School, and starred in "The Indispensables," a locally-produced TV show. Cathy attended Stephen's College in Columbia, Missouri, studying philosophy and religion. Cathy met her future husband, Bill Weatherford, after a football game between the University of Missouri and Southern Methodist University, where Bill was SMU's quarterback. Fruitful and eventful would be one way of describing Cathy's and Bill's life. Over the next 16 years while residing in Dallas and then Tampa Bay, they would have seven boys and two girls. Cathy's faith was contagious; she felt compelled to lovingly share the "good news" with everyone she met. She lived her faith through her efforts to help the less fortunate, and especially in her passion for helping children. She chose to homeschool her own children during their primary years, teaching them not only the basic academic skills, but also how to live a life of faith and service. She always used her abiding faith and inquiring mind in raising her children. She prayed with and for them, always encouraging them to seek wisdom and to reflect God's love. There is no way to calculate the lives Cathy impacted, for the stories of her good deeds are innumerable. Her family is assured that, by God's grace, she fought the good fight, she finished the race and she kept the faith throughout her struggles with cancer. She was especially encouraged and inspired by nieces Rebecca Pepple Jensen, RN, and Makaira Beyer.
Cathy is survived by her husband Bill Weatherford, their children -- Jackie Gustafson (Dave), former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Will Weatherford (Courtney), Sam Weatherford (Salime), Andrew Weatherford (Morgan), Grace Boerner (Kyle), Joseph Weatherford, John Weatherford, Stephen Weatherford and Peter Weatherford (deceased) -- and 11 grandchildren. She is also survived by her mother, former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Carolyn Warner, and her siblings, Caron Lieber (Robert), Stephen Warner, Connie Pepple (Rick), Christi Mary Warner Beyer (Paul). A Memorial Service celebrating Cathy Warner Weatherford's life will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday November 23rd, 2015 at Grace Family Church, 5101 Van Dyke Road, Lutz, FL 33558. Locally, memorials in Cathy's memory may be given to Hospice of the Valley (Hospice of the Valley Fund Development, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014; or https://www.hov.org/donate-now)