Catherine Stitt Stow

Lansing, MI

Age 98; born September 27, 1915; passed away peacefully on June 6, 2014. Catherine was born in Bellaire, MI, daughter of the late Albert and Anna (Coates) Stitt. In 1937 she married Gordon H. Stow, who preceded her in death in 2007. A member of Plymouth Congregational Church for 76 years, Catherine served on various boards and committees and was very active in the Women’s Fellowship and Mayflower Circle. She was active in P.E.O. and a lifetime member of the University of Michigan Alumni Association and the American Association of University Women. She graduated from the University of Michigan with bachelor's degrees in both Library Science and English. Catherine and Gordon traveled in Europe, Japan, South America, Scandinavia, and most of the fifty states. Surviving are daughters Ann (Ira) Purchis of Lansing, MI, Mary Jane Kibby of Worthington, OH, and Jean (Shane) Bolley of Bath, MI; son Robert (Ruth) Stow of Traverse City, MI; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sister Ruth (late Richard) Sell; brother-in-law Richard (Donnah) Stow; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by brother A. Clyde Stitt, sister Ida Mae Stitt and sister-in-law Lucile (Vernon) Peterson.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 12, 2014 at Plymouth Congregational Church, 2001 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing, MI. The family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Lansing Chapel, 900 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI. Private interment will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Lansing. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation be made to Plymouth Congregational Church General Fund, 2001 E. Grand River, Lansing MI 48912; P.E.O. Sisterhood Peace Scholarship Fund, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312 or https://donations.peointernational.org/peo-donation-ips; or Lansing YMCA, 119 N Washington Square, Lansing, MI, 48933.

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Lansing Chapel. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.grlansing.com.