Catherine began life in depression-era Arkansas in 1930. She was the oldest of seven children in a talented musical family.
She married LD Burton at 15 and started a family. They moved to Sweet Home in 1962. Cathy began working outside the home in 1964 with White's Electronics. After being widowed in 1972, she married Joe Roe in 1974, moved to Albany, and started a 10-plus year career in retail furniture sales. It was during this time that she became interested in herbal remedies and healthy eating. She purchased Jean's Health & Happiness store on Ferry Street in Albany in 1986. With help of local family in the beginning, she and grand-daughter Ami ran the store until her 2010 retirement.
Catherine was widowed once more in 2003.
Surviving children include Nina (Al), Bobbie (John) and Marie (Reno). She had eight grandchildren, Jennifer, Karen, Lori, Shane, Sheila, Ami, Staci and Joe; 17 great-grandchildren and two great-greats.
Cathy was known for her strong Baptist faith and opinions. She had a life-long love of music; especially Southern Gospel.
There will be no services. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, a contribution to your charity of choice, either directly, or through AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home.
A granddaughter remembers: I will always remember the peanut butter cookies she made for me as a child, the pinto beans and corn bread she made us the last time we visited, and how she always tried to give us the right vitamin to keep us all healthy. She loved to sing about God and loved giving praises to him. Although we hate to say good bye, it is not good bye forever because we know we will see her again someday.
A daughter says: She did love music and singing! I loved her reading books to us as a family when we were little. Tom Sawyer was one, and she always put so much expression into her reading. She made the books come alive. I was remembering her singing the song "The Little Red School House" the other day. She had fun singing that for us and acting it out. We will see you again someday.