McCABE, Cathy Lynn (BURCHETT)

BURCHETT, CARNS, MCCABE, BARTON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 3/2/2015 at 02:53:39

The Arizona Republic
Phoenix, Arizona
Sunday, April 06, 2003

Obituary ~ Cathy Lynn (Burchett) McCabe
February 17, 1948 ~ April 03, 2003

Cathy Lynn McCabe, 1948 - 2003, Loving Wife and Mother, Artist, Teacher, School Principal.

Cathy McCabe was born Cathy Lynn Burchett February 17, 1948, in Leon, Iowa, to parents Wayne and Gayle (Carns) Burchett. She grew up on the family's cattle ranch just north of Grand River, Iowa. She was active in 4-H, music, sports, and clubs and excelled in each at Grand Valley High School.

Cathy attended the University of Iowa on an academic scholarship in the school of fine arts majoring in painting with an emphasis in art education. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with High Distinction. After seven years working in the insurance industry in Connecticut and Kentucky, she returned to Iowa to teach art and distributive education at Winterset High School. She later became the assistant principal there. She earned a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Drake University in 1980.

In 1982 Cathy moved to Arizona. She was the marketing teacher coordinator at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe. In 1984 Cathy became the Assistant State Supervisor of Marketing Education and State DECA Advisor, and then served as the State Supervisor of Marketing Education. In 1991 Cathy joined Creighton School District, serving as a student advisor at Creighton Middle School and assistant principal at Larry C. Kennedy School.

In 1996, she became principal of Knox Elementary School in Chandler, a position she held until she slipped away to soar with the angels. Cathy loved children - her grandchildren and the nearly 700 children at Knox. She loved music. She was caring, concerned, fair, and ethical in her walk through life. She could outwork a team of oxen. Cathy McCabe was devoted to her family and gave the best of herself to others asking little in return. She believed in the importance of public schools, and held teaching and teachers in the highest esteem. She was a master teacher and a master educator.

Cathy Lynn McCabe is survived by her husband Michael of Gilbert, Arizona; sons Douglas and Andrew and daughters-in-law Alexa and Amy all of Seattle, Washington; grandchildren Alexander and Ava; sister Anne Barton and brother-in-law Lester and sons Kenneth and Jacob of Chandler, Arizona; her mother, Gayle Burchett of Mt. Ayr, Iowa, and her parents-in-law Frank and Louise McCabe of Gilbert, Arizona.

Her father, Wayne O. Burchett of Grand River, Iowa, preceded her in death.

Visitation will be at Falconer Funeral Home, 251 W. Juniper, Gilbert, AZ, 85234 from 6:00pm to 8:00 pm, Monday, April 7th.

Funeral services will be at Gilbert Presbyterian Church, 235 E. Guadalupe on Tuesday, April 8th, at 7:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Cathy's honor to the Cathy L. McCabe Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Knox Elementary School, 700 West Orchid Street, Chandler, AZ, 85225. Make checks payable to CEF.

Additionally there will be a memorial service in Iowa on Saturday, April 12th, at the Grand River Methodist Church at 2:00pm.

A fellowship hour will follow in the church basement.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2015