KATHARINE SPIKES

SPIKES--Katharine. Katharine Alma Spikes, 53, passed away peacefully at her home in Westfield, NJ, on July 25, 2023, after a long-fought battle with cancer. Born in New York City to Dr. James L. and Judith Doolin Spikes, she was raised in Larchmont, NY. After college, she lived in New York and Jersey City before moving to Westfield in 2011. Katie graduated from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. Just out of college, she began a long and illustrious career in television, first on the CBS News overnight shift and then as a talent producer for CNN's Larry King Live in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. In 1997, she returned to CBS News, where she went on to become an Emmy award- winning producer and then a Senior Story Editor at "60 Minutes." Katie was a treasured colleague, mentor, and friend, whose sound judgment, unwavering optimism, and eternal wisdom enriched the lives of all who knew her. She loved spending time outdoors with family and friends, whether skiing in Vermont, hiking in the woods with her beloved dog Splash, or swimming at Barnegat Light. Katie had a passion for historic preservation and was a longtime member of the Westfield Historic Preservation Commission. Katie is survived by her loving husband, Donald E. Furrer; her two sons, James Joseph Furrer and Owen Doolin Furrer; her stepson, Brandon Scott Furrer; her parents, Judith Doolin Spikes and Dr. James L. Spikes; her sister, Sarah Spikes; and numerous cherished nieces, nephews, colleagues, and friends. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 414 E. Broad St., Westfield, NJ, on Monday, July 31st, at 10am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center www.mskcc.org Services are in the care of Dooley Colonial Home in Westfield. dooleycolonialhome.com.