Catherine Mary Sue (Kittrell) Stone

Catherine Mary Sue Kittrell Stone, 70, of Geneseo, passed away Tuesday, August 16, 2016, at Unity Point -Trinity Rock Island.  A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 22 at St. Malachy Catholic Church, Geneseo.  Father Michael Pakula will officiate.  Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo.  Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory, Geneseo.  Memorials may be made to the Geneseo Public Library.

Catherine was born on April 7, 1946, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Edward and Catherine (Harrison) Kittrell.  She was later adopted by Lorraine Kittrell.  She graduated from Geneseo Senior High School, attended Clarke College, and graduated from Marycrest College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.  She went on to obtain her Master of Library Science from Northern Illinois University.  Catherine was united in marriage with Richard A. Stone on August 12, 1967, in Geneseo.  She worked as a librarian at Black Hawk College and later became the Reference Manager at the Davenport Public Library. 

Catherine was an engaged conversationalist with a flair for debate and she was also a voracious reader.  After her retirement as a librarian, her interest in research led her to pursue the study of genealogy.  She devoted many of the final years of her life chronicling the family history. She enjoyed playing bridge with her friends, appreciated art, music, watching the Chicago White Sox, and traveling.  Most of all, she loved her family and spending time with her grandchildren.  She and Richard had recently celebrated 49 years of marriage.

Catherine was active in her community.  She taught genealogy classes at the Geneseo Public Library.  She served on the Henry County Republican Women’s Board and worked on the Jim Thompson for Governor election campaign in 1976.  She was a school referendum volunteer and a host for the Rotary Club exchange program.  Catherine was a lifetime member of the Illinois Congress of Parents and Teachers.  She was also a member of the Geneseo Art League, the Geneseo Community Choir, and a board member of the Geneseo Public Library.  Catherine had won her battle with breast cancer and was a proud survivor. 

She is survived by her husband, Richard; daughter, Karen (James) Davis of Moline, IL, sons, John (Heather Holtzclaw-Stone) Stone of Urbana, IL, and George (Kirsten) Stone of Fairfax, VA, grandchildren, Violet Catherine Lynch, Wyatt Timothy Lynch, Edward Grove Stone, Charles James Stone, and Callen Richard Stone; sisters, Alison (Mark) Gaynor of Iowa City, IA, Kim Mitchell of Grand Rapids, MI, and Dr. Tracy Kittrell of Solon, IA, brother, Edward (Jeanne) Kittrell, Jr. of Glenview. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Catherine Merleadele Harrison Kittrell and Edward Franklin Kittrell, her infant sister, Rita, and her adoptive mother, Lorraine Marie Kittrell.

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