Cathy Jo Hamill

Born on July 17th, 1952, in Batesville, Arkansas, she was the oldest of four children to Lola Jean and Anton Mikeska. Cathy grew up and graduated from Rogers High School in Rogers, Texas, in 1970. She then pursued her passion for nursing, graduating as Valedictorian of Temple Junior College in 1982. Cathy devoted the next 30 years to raising her seven children while working in nursing homes and VA hospitals, where she discovered her true calling in geriatrics.

In her spare time, Cathy loved cooking, sewing, dancing, painting, and singing. She spent countless weekends in the kitchen or at her sewing machine, joyfully passing these skills on to her children and grandchildren. Cathy treasured spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. From watching movies with them, to making each one a special blanket, her eyes always lit up when one would come down and visit her.

In 2013, Cathy was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. She remained positive and strong through years of treatments and setbacks. Although she retired from nursing earlier than planned, she continued to selflessly care for others, including her mother, siblings, and children. She often helped with doctor’s appointments or recovering loved ones after surgery. To know Cathy was to know that she always put others before herself.

Cathy is preceded in death by her father, Anton Mikeska, as well as many aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

She will be deeply missed by her mother, Lola Jean Mikeska; her brothers, Mike Mikeska, Patrick Mikeska, and Johnnie Mikeska; and her seven children: Candice (Randy) Greer, Charity Fuller, Shannon (Tracey) Nemjo, Cathleen (Ronald) Bates, Kenneth Hamill, Lloyd (Edna) Hamill, and Anton (Kim) Mikeska.

Cathy also leaves behind numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Kimberly, Hannah, Michaela, Michael, Pearson, Britten, Paige, Chloe, Isabelle, Landon, Lilly, Shane, AJ, Brooke, Brady, Kamille, Kennedy, Lloyd, Kamden, Benjamin, Gentry, Paxton, Catherine, Georgia, Cecelia, Parker, Greer, and Montana.

A private family viewing is scheduled for December 17th, with a Celebration of Life to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in Cathy’s memory.