M. Winifred Dempsey

Winifred was born on August 4, 1919 in Mound City, Missouri, the youngest of seven children of Attie Benton Caton and Pearl Gillis Caton. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University where she met the love of her life, Richard Walsh Dempsey. They were married for sixty-three wonderful years until his death in 2007. Winifred is survived by her loving children: son, Richard Michael Dempsey and wife Tina, daughter, Deidra D. Heller and husband Lee, daughter, Jean Dempsey and partner Rita Gonzales; grandchildren: Sheana Suek and husband John, Michael Dempsey and wife Erin, Erin M. Dempsey, Grant Heller, Catie Heller, and great grandchildren: Joseph and Stella Suek, and Megan and Tatum Dempsey, and her beloved sister, Marvel Caton Thetford, of Dubuque, Iowa.

Winifred and husband Dick traveled and lived in many places through his career as an Army officer, including Europe and Japan. Winifred supported her husband’s career through their many assignments and his deployments. They settled in San Antonio, Texas where they lived for over 40 years. She considered herself born a mid-westerner but an adopted Texan. Winifred had moved in recent years to Austin, Texas to be near the loving assistance of her daughter, Jean. Winifred enjoyed her hobbies including duplicate bridge, quilting, gardening, crossword puzzles, cooking and entertaining. Winifred, also known by her childhood nickname, Catie, wished to be remembered, not in sorrow, but in happiness for a wonderful and blessed life with a loving, close knit family, and great friends and neighbors. She was beloved for her thoughtfulness, quick wit, and devotion to family.

Funeral services will be at 12 noon on January 2, 2013 at Sunset Funeral Home, internment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Mound City Christian Church or the American Cancer Society.