Kathleen McLaughlin Chatham

Decatur

Kathleen lived an extraordinary life and a most admirable one. A simple obituary is ill-suited to describe her courage and integrity. Those fortunate to know her will remember her well.
A graduate of Sacred Heart College in Cullman, Kathleen majored in journalism, edited The Scroll, and earned the bishop’s gold Medal of Excellence. She married Saint Bernard College graduate, Griffin Chatham; together they bore seven children. Widowed at age 28, Kathleen began a long career as an executive secretary, working for three plant managers of 3M Company, Decatur, Ala., for almost 30 years.
Kathleen was predeceased by her husband, Griff, and by her oldest child, Kathy. She is survived by six children, Betty Hammond, Angela Patterson, and Imelda Fisher, all of Decatur, Frank Chatham of Auburn, and Bert Chatham and Mark Chatham, both of Huntsville. Her grandchildren are Catherine Hammond of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Joshua Fisher of Decatur.
Our family asks that memorials honoring Kathleen be made to group homes for the mentally retarded in Huntsville; Ability Plus, Inc., P.O. Box 11604, Huntsville, AL 35814, Attention: Ms. Carisa Yeary.

This obituary was originally published in the Decatur Daily.