Cathy Weaver

Catherine Carol (Peachey) Weaver was born in Pennsylvania on March 28, 1941, to Louis and Sadie Peachey. As one of nine children, she grew up on a dairy farm in the beautiful Kishacoquillas Valley. While her family worked very hard, they also enjoyed special traditions that she loved, including berry picking in the mountains, softball, homemade ice cream, visiting the ocean, reading, baking, singing, and festivities for the holidays.
Cathy came to the plains of Kansas to attend Hesston College, where she met the love of her life, Jerry. They were married August 3, 1962, and started an almost sixty-year journey together that spanned multiple churches, multiple states, and even multiple continents. As a preacher s daughter herself, she never imagined she would marry a pastor, but she embraced the role and felt very blessed by the people she met and time she spent in each place. In her words we were privileged to share in the joys, sorrows and celebrations, and made many friends for a lifetime. The churches they were a part of included Yellow Creek (Indiana); Hesston Mennonite, Whitestone Mennonite, Crystal Springs, Pleasant Valley (Kansas); and First Mennonite Church in Denver (Colorado). She particularly loved teaching Sunday School, being part of the Women s Sewing Group, and serving on the First Mennonite Church Worship Committee where she had the chance to pick out hymns to fit the scripture for each service.
In addition to the full-time role of preacher s wife, Cathy also worked incredibly hard to help support her family. Some of the roles she held included working as a church secretary (a role she loved), working at Prairie View, arranging flowers at Country Gardens (another one of her favorites), and working the early shift at Druber s Donut Shop. After the completion of her Bethel College social work degree much later in life (something she was very proud of), she worked as a Case Manager and Manager of Homemaker Services with the Department of Aging for Reno County and then, after their move to Denver, also worked as Coordinator in the Alzheimer Room at an adult day care and later as a top salesperson for the Amish Showcase Furniture Store.
Upon their return to Hesston from Denver, Cathy became an active volunteer. The Villa Partners, Et Cetera Shop and Kauffman Museum were a few of her favorite organizations. Spending time with precious friends was also important, and she enjoyed being part of her book club, her Villa Bible Study and gadding about with old and new friends alike. Relationships were incredibly important to her, and she enjoyed each and every person she had the privilege of connecting with.
Of all her treasures, Cathy s family was the most precious. Her three boys and their families meant more than anything to her and any time she could spend with the family was incredibly special. From sharing a meal, playing a card game, watching KU basketball, or simply walking around the arboretum, there was nothing better to her than the opportunity to be present with those she loved.
In recent years, Cathy faced some deep difficulties, including the illness and death of her beloved husband, hearing loss, and cancer in her own body. Through it all, Cathy s fierce and loving nature burned brightly. She recently wrote I have known God s constant presence. Even though things may change, He is beside me and will be there to the end of my life As long as I can read work in my garden, enjoy our family volunteer whenever and wherever help is needed, keep in close touch with friends, and keep learning these things make life so very rich!! And so I ll keep journeying on. Cathy died peacefully at Schowalter Villa on Sunday morning, July 31, 2022. May the fierce and unconditional love that Cathy shared through her care for others, her baked goods, her meals, her cards, her visits, her kind words, and her hugs (that always felt much bigger than her small stature) live on in all of us.
Cathy is preceded in death by her parents (Louis and Sadie Peachey), older brother Samuel, and husband Jerry. Cathy is survived by seven siblings, Louis, Sara, Lee, Charity, Ann, Iva, and James and their families; three sons: David (Emily), Bruce (Lori), and Rick (Jill); six grandchildren: Miranda (Jamie), Madelyn (Jeff), Matthew (Crystal), Ashley (Caleb), Kendrick, and Ally; and four great-grandchildren: Devon, Rowan, Caelynn, and Dawson.
A memorial service for Cathy will be held at Whitestone Mennonite Church at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 13. Donations to the Schowalter Villa Good Samaritan Caring Fund can be made in lieu of flowers.