Catherine "Kay" Crissman

CATHERINE CRISSMAN Catherine (Kay) Crissman was born July 9, 1922 in Paonia, Colo. the daughter of Ralph and Helen (Lamb) Crissman. She passed away at The Valley Inn Nursing Home in Mancos, Colo. on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at the age of 89. Strongly independent, Catherine enjoyed a life of work and travel. Catherine began her career working in Washington, D.C. in the 1940's for Colorado Congressman Wilson Rockwell. She was later employed by Transworld Airlines as a secretary to the vice president of government affairs, in which she continued working and residing in Washington until she was 80. At 80, she moved to Mancos, Colo. to live close to her family. She took advantage of the exposure to travel and enjoyed being able to travel the world. In her quiet down time, Catherine loved watching movies. Although she never married and had children of her own, she had a large extended family of nieces and nephews that adored her. So loved was Catherine that five girls and four boys carry either Catherine or Crissman in their names. Surviving Catherine are a niece, Susan Lawrence and husband, David Manderscheid of Lincoln, Neb.; great nieces, Catherine Epps and husband, Jake of Mancos, Colo., Nicole Korak and husband, James of Lantana, Tex., and Debbie Wilkins and husband, Casey of Columbus, Ohio; great nephews, Michael Lawrence and wife, Perri of Dallas, Tex. and Ryan Lawrence and wife, Lori of Jenks, Okla.; nieces-in-law, Judy Yatros of Arizona and Jan King of California; and four great great nieces and five great great nephews. Catherine was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Margaret Crissman Lawrence; a brother, Malcolm Crissman; and two nephews, Crissman Lawrence and Walter Lawrence. Cremation has taken place. Private family services will be held at a later date.