Catherine B Whitaker

Catherine “Cathy” Brooke Whitaker, devoted wife, beloved mother, treasured sister and friend, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, April 26, 2020, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 65.

Memorial Services honoring and celebrating her life will be held in Fort Worth, Texas and Topeka, Kansas, once restrictions in place as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are lifted.

Catherine “Cathy” Brooke Whitaker was born on March 16, 1955, to John and Ruth Brooke in Topeka, Kansas. She grew up in Topeka and graduated from Hayden High School in 1974. On October 23, 1981, she married the love of her life, Mike Whitaker, and they began their family three years later with the birth of their daughter, Kellie, followed by the birth of their twins, Kevin and Kristen. Cathy and Mike were married thirty years, until his passing in 2012.

Cathy was raised in the Catholic faith in Topeka, and spent many happy years there raising her children and taking care of her family, while also enjoying a long tenure at Blue Cross Blue Shield and EDS. In 2002, Mike was transferred to Fort Worth, Texas, where he continued his career at BNSF Railway Company and Cathy spent the remainder of her work life at Humana Behavioral Health before retiring in 2015. After settling in to their home in Keller, Texas, Cathy became a member of Gateway Church in Fort Worth, where she worshiped and developed many close friendships.

She enjoyed numerous hobbies throughout her life, including painting ceramics, crafting, antique shopping, and traveling with her much-loved sisters and friends. She also enjoyed lively games of bunko and pokeno, and practicing yoga with her “tribe”. No joy compared, however, to that of being grandma to her precious grandson and two delightful granddaughters. She was a fun and loving grandma and nothing made her eyes sparkle more than when she was spending time with them.

Survivors include her daughters, Kellie Whitaker, Kristen Stogdill and her husband Kenneth, her son, Kevin Whitaker and his girlfriend, Kristi, grandson Keating Stogdill, and granddaughters Aubrey Gomez and McKenna Whitaker. Cathy is also survived by her dearly loved siblings, John Brooke, Jr. and his wife Sally, Ellie Brooke, Carole Shapiro and her husband Dave, Ruth Droste and her husband Dan, Sandy MacGill and her husband Dave, Sue Schell and her husband Gregg, Janice Brooke, Michael Brooke, and many nieces and nephews.

Cathy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Mike Whitaker, mother, Ruth Capeless Brooke, father, John Brooke, Sr., brothers, Jim and Dan, and her sister, Barbara.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cancer Support Community North Texas at www.cancersupporttexas.org or P.O. Box 12688, Dallas, TX 75255.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shannonrufesnow.com for the Whitaker family.