Karen Ann Wilson

Cathy Wilson, (Karen Ann), died on November 4, 2023, at her home in Venice, FL. She was surrounded by her three sons at the time of her passing. She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in November, 2022. She fought gracefully and valiantly for a year.

She was born on July 24, 1943 to Orrin and Gladys (Eastcott) Howe. She grew up in St. Clair Shores, MI, with 2 older brothers, Hadley and Jon Howe and twin sister Linda Maguire. They lived across the street from Lake St. Clair, where she loved swimming, fishing, and ice skating. She attended Lake Shore High School (class of 1961), where she was a cheerleader and the Homecoming Queen of 1961.

She has 3 sons from her marriage (1961-1984) to Dan Wilson. “Her Boys” and her granddaughters remained her pride and joy and the lights of her life.

Jimmy (James Edward) Wilson and partner Lou Sawaya of Palm Springs, CA, granddaughter Morgan Sawaya of Pasadena, CA.

Bobby (Robert Charles) Wilson and wife Carmela Manzari-Wilson of Santa Fe, NM.

Jon Allan Wilson and partner Kate Atkins of Sarasota FL. Granddaughters Kylie Wilson of Sarasota FL and Audrey Wilson of Pensacola FL.

Cathy enjoyed a long career at General Motors where she made lifelong friends. Throughout her career, she kept pursuing more education and eventually got her masters degree from Oakland University. After retiring from GM in 2001, she relocated to Las Vegas, NV to support her twin sister, Linda, during her battle with breast cancer.

In addition to her 3 sons, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters, she is survived by her sister-in-law, Eve Howe, nephews Kevin Howe and Gary Howe, nieces Karen Howe-Behrooz, Kim Howe, Lori Wilson-Heino, and Michelle Wilson-Burns, and cousins Amy Bowers and Wendy Bowers.

Her parents, Orrin and Gladys (Eastcott) Howe, stepmother Mildred Howe, brother Jon Howe, and twin sister, Linda Maguire, preceded her in death. She has also lost her nephew Chris Carneghi and cousins Sharon Bowers, Bill Bowers, and Karen Bowers-Borowiak.

Memorial/Celebration of Life service will be held at Venice Presbyterian Church (825 The Rialto, Venice FL). Friday, November 17 at 11am. Pastors Steve Cleckner and Derek Proehl of The Bridge Church will be officiating.

The Wilson Brothers and our families want to thank Continuum Hospice Care for taking exceptional care of our Mother. We’d also like to thank Mom’s Mattamy neighbors and Bridge Church friends for their thoughtfulness, sending a constant flow of delicious food and treats to Mom’s house.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the following organizations near and dear to Cathy’s heart:

The Bridge Church building fund: www.thebridgechurchvenice.churchcenter.com/giving/to/building-fund

Breast Cancer Research Fund: www.bcrf.org

NAACP College Fund: www.naacp.org

Audubon Society: www.audubon.org