Catherine Lean Walters

Catherine Lean (Lamb) Walters, age 82, passed away peacefully due to complications from Alzheimer’s on November 16, 2024, in Aurora, Colorado. She is survived by a devoted spouse, Lowell Walters, of 66 years, a son Todd Walters and daughter Michelle (Walters) Petree, 9 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. 

She was born in Parsons, Kansas where she and her mother spent many years active in the Salvation Army. With them she found a love for music and learned to play the cornet, accordion and piano. She and Lowell married in 1959 and enjoyed a two-year honeymoon in Hawaii thanks to Lowell being stationed there by the U.S. Navy. After returning to Kansas, she earned her GED, went to beauty school and worked as a beautician. Lowell landed a job at Phillips Petroleum, and they moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma. 

Cathy went on to earn her associate’s degree in science and then a bachelor’s in business administration from Oklahoma State University. After graduating she started a new field office selling life insurance for Prudential. Then she tried her hand at other professions until she finally found her true calling as a teacher while working at a vocational technology school. 

So, she went back to Oklahoma State University, earned her master’s degree in special education and accepted a position teaching Special Education in the Tulsa Public School District. While this was extremely challenging work, she found it very worthwhile and took great joy in helping the special student populations. She worked there until she retired at 60. 

Once retired, she and Lowell were blessed to visit the remaining 47 states, parts of Canada and Newfoundland. Then they sold their home in Bartlesville and moved to Australia for a little more than a year to help their daughter and her family while taking time to explore most of that continent. 

Finally, she settled down in Aurora, Colorado to be near her daughter and her grandchildren. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2010. Taking this in stride, she continued enjoying her remaining time by spending every moment she could with her grandchildren teaching them and loving them. 

Cathy loved Jesus as her Savior. She modeled courage, perseverance and selflessness to everyone in her life. She will be lovingly remembered by those of us fortunate enough to have known her. 

There will be a celebration of life in Aurora, CO on November 30th, 2024, and another celebration in Parsons, KS on December 15th. There will be an opportunity for those that would like to share stories about Cathy. For locations and times please email [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending your contribution to www.alz.org or another organization fighting to end Alzheimer’s.