Catherine Marie King

Catherine "Cathy" (Trusty) King, 73, passed away January 18, 2026, surrounded by family and love at Iowa Methodist Medical Center.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Memorial Services of Iowa (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd). A funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m., also at the funeral home.

Cathy was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, on July 9, 1952. The daughter of Mary Yvonne (McDonald) Trusty and Thomas F. Trusty, Cathy grew up in Ankeny graduating from Ankeny High School in 1970. She later attended both Iowa State University and the University of Iowa, where she received her teaching degree in 1979.

It was that same year that Cathy began her teaching career as a reading specialist. Her commitment to reading and writing defined her 32-year tenure with Des Moines Independent Schools, culminating in her retirement in 2011. She loved teaching and she loved her students.

Henry Adams said, "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." Even if Cathy did know the impact she had during her decades' long career, she would never tell you. She was humble and kind.

Cathy valued her roles as both mother and grandmother. She regularly visited her son Christopher to read with him each week and always had time for her grandchildren's karate practice every Tuesday. She was always there to lend an ear when you needed to talk and was a wonderful friend and listener.

Throughout her life she enjoyed staying in contact with her best girlfriends, Debbie, Stacy, Diane, Teri, and Joyce. She talked about them all the time and cherished the fun and crazy adventures they had.

She is survived by her children, Brenda Bash Cooper (Jason), Christopher Keast, Caitlin Davis (Jonathon), and Chelsea King; grandchildren, Jordan, Jacob, Kingston, Sawyer and Sutton; brother, Tom Trusty (Barb); sisters, Beth Rohwedder, Lisa Kinseth (Bruce), and Stephanie Trusty; along with nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Tom Trusty; and her brother, Mark Trusty.

Cathy will always be remembered as a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. Her family loves her and misses her so much. They are so thankful for all she has done for them and they will never forget her.

Cathy's family would like to extend thanks and praise to the staff at Sienna Hills in Ankeny, Valley View Village, Suncrest Hospice, as well as the Critical Care Unit and North 6 floor nursing staff for their exceptional care and comfort provided to Cathy during her illness.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Mosaic (a nonprofit organization for adults with disabilities) in loving acknowledgement of her son Christopher Dale Keast.