Catherine A. "Kate" West (Mackey)
September 6, 1915 — October 1, 2012
Catherine (Kate) Mackey West, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully at the age of 97 years on Monday, October 1, 2012. Funeral Mass: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at St. Ludmila Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Father Dennis Juhl. Family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 2, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, where a prayer service and rosary will begin at 4:00 p.m. Burial: St. John’s Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include her son, James (Paulette) West; daughter, Rita (Jerry) Brown; daughter-in-law, Barbara West; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, Donald F. West; son, Donald G. West; grandchildren, Mike, Dan, Elisa and Angela; brothers, Bill, Jim, Bob and George Mackey; and sister, Margaret Cach.
Catherine was born September 6, 1915, on her family’s homestead near Ely, Iowa, the daughter of Ludmila (Hladky) and James Mackey. She attended a rural Ely country school and graduated from St. Wenceslaus High School in Cedar Rapids.
On February 9, 1937, Catherine Mackey and Donald West were united in marriage at St. Ludmila Church. Catherine, of Irish and Czech heritage, was a hard worker, strong and determined. She loved her garden, flowers and being outside with nature – all a reminder of her early life on the farm and living on her acreage for almost 70 years. She took pride in beginning the first Easter egg hunt which has become a family tradition for over 60 years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Ludmila Church or to Hospice of Mercy.
Survivors include her son, James (Paulette) West; daughter, Rita (Jerry) Brown; daughter-in-law, Barbara West; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, Donald F. West; son, Donald G. West; grandchildren, Mike, Dan, Elisa and Angela; brothers, Bill, Jim, Bob and George Mackey; and sister, Margaret Cach.
Catherine was born September 6, 1915, on her family’s homestead near Ely, Iowa, the daughter of Ludmila (Hladky) and James Mackey. She attended a rural Ely country school and graduated from St. Wenceslaus High School in Cedar Rapids.
On February 9, 1937, Catherine Mackey and Donald West were united in marriage at St. Ludmila Church. Catherine, of Irish and Czech heritage, was a hard worker, strong and determined. She loved her garden, flowers and being outside with nature – all a reminder of her early life on the farm and living on her acreage for almost 70 years. She took pride in beginning the first Easter egg hunt which has become a family tradition for over 60 years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Ludmila Church or to Hospice of Mercy.
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