Katherine Marsh Conant

Katherine Marsh Conant peacefully passed away on July 12, 2010, after a rich and full life. Kate, as she was affectionately known, had a zest and enthusiasm for life that enriched the lives of all those around her. She was born July 17, 1918, in San Marcos and lived in Berkeley, Calif., where she heard John Phillip Sousa perform and witnessed Charles Lindbergh in "The Spirit of St. Louis" fly over San Francisco Bay on his Trans-Atlantic flight to Paris. She moved to Richland Springs, Texas, when she was12, where she graduated valedictorian from high school. She won a DAR "Good Citizenship" essay contest at age 17, culminating in a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., representing the state of Texas, where she had the honor of shaking First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's hand. After high school, she studied at Howard Payne University.

In spring of 1938, she met charmer Bob Conant who captured her heart, and they were married that October. They lived in Austin and began their family, only to be interrupted by the war, while Bob served in the South Pacific. After the war, they settled in Corsicana, and moved to Bastrop in 1959, living there until Bob's death from cancer in 1965. Kate then finished her education at San Marcos University and moved to Grand Saline and received her Master's of Education from East Texas University in Commerce. Kate taught and nurtured first grade children in Grand Saline for eight years and then lived in Gonzales, teaching a junior- high cultures class, creating the curriculum to expose students to the interesting customs and languages of the German, Hispanic, African and English cultures of the area around them, retiring after 14 dedicated years of teaching.

She then lived in Shiner, Austin, New Braunfels, and Coppell, finishing out her life in Flint with her daughter. Her family was her life and many of her moves reflect her selfless devotion to them. Her large, extended family will lovingly remember Kate for her generous spirit, her strength and courage, her wit and sense of humor, her faith, her fierce and limitless love for her family, many happy summers with her at various Texas/ Florida beaches and her fabulous cooking, especially her holiday cookies, pies, creative birthday cakes and famous cinnamon rolls! Kate was preceded in death by her mother, Mary L. Marsh; father, George B. Marsh; brother, George B. Marsh Jr.; and her beloved husband, Robert E. Conant.

She is survived by her sister, Rosemary Flores; her half brothers, Geoffrey and Wade Marsh; daughter, Camille; and her sons, Alan and Joel Conant; her grandchildren. Claire Marshall, Laura Highnote, Anna Highnote, Robert, Matthew and Andrew Conant, and Mary Michelle Mattern; great-grand children, Meredith, Garrett and Elliott Marshall, Christopher, Camille and Wade Smith, Benjamin Johnston, Austin, Sarah and Grace Mattern, and Addy Conant; many nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins.

The family wishes to thank Johna Birdsong for her assistance in the care of Kate over the past two years.

There will be a celebration of Kate's life Sept. 5 in a family memorial service at the Gibbons/Mays Ranch outside of Richland Springs - her cherished, childhood home.