Catherine Jane Burris

Calling hours will begin at noon on Saturday, February 26, at Myers-Reed Funeral Home, 3729 25th Street, and will continue until a memorial service at 3 p.m. A celebration of her life will be held at Dancers Studio, Inc., 211 Washington St., beginning at 5 p.m. the same day.

Catherine was born June 24, 1949, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the daughter of Arthur and Eunice (Bracewell) Fluckey. She graduated from Columbus High School in 1967 and from Ball State University with a B.S. in Art Education. She did graduate work at Indiana University.

Her varied career included work as a junior high school art teacher, Creative Director at Cosco, Inc. from 1976 to 1979, and traveling designer and sign painter for RDG, San Francisco. She worked on various projects for the Columbus Area Arts Council, including coordinating the annual Sculpture Invitational. She was a freelance graphic designer and fine artist with work in private and public collections nationwide, including the Kinsey Institute, Indiana State Museum, Columbus City Hall, The Breast Health Center and Hospice of South Central Indiana. Locally, she designed the Seal of Bartholomew County and numerous logos for community organizations and events, including Ethnic Expo.

She was a member of First Christian Church and Columbus Art League and was a muralist with the At-Risk Youth Community Art Program. She donated talent and time to many community endeavors and was recognized in 1992 with the Mayors Art Award. She was known to her family and friends as an enthusiastic game player, lover of classic movies and a creative force in all that she did.

Survivors include her husband of 33 years, Robert Burris of Columbus; daughters, Lydia Burris of Indianapolis and Emily Hartmann (Antonio) Torres of Columbus; stepdaughters, Carolyn Burris (Mel) Kreilein of Miami and Cathy Burris (Greg) Turner of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; a sister, Leigh Fluckey (Van) Chesnut of South Strafford, Vermont; a brother, James, of Phoenix, Arizona; grandchildren, Molly and Mitchell Henry and Jessica and Cory Turner; nieces, Laura and Lily Chesnut; and nephews, Wil and Jim Fluckey.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Youth Programs, c/o Columbus Area Arts Council, 417 3rd Street, Columbus, IN 47201, or a charity of one’s choice.

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