Katy was born with a light covering of red hair, red eyebrows and the sweetest face. The red hair is from the Stark/Churchill family line. Dr. Fujimoto told me she was the most beautiful baby he had ever delivered. I was thrilled until I remembered he had said that after Sarah was born 5 years earlier. Of course all of my children are perfect and beautiful!! Katy was a happy good natured baby. She was also lazy and spoiled by her big sister Sarah and big brother Erik who refused to change diapers but would entertain his sisters with his keen sense of humor. Katy finally walked at 13 1/2 months. She just didn’t need to walk any sooner. That is what her siblings are for. That starts to explain her development into the delightful young lady who we all love. Katy was blessed with her brother Frankie when she was 15 months old. They always called them self twins. We called them Frick and frack. They were best friends. Always will be.

We moved to North Carolina when Katy was 7 years old. Katy started 2nd grade at Lindley Park in Asheboro. Frankie was in 1st grade. The very first week of school they were told to wear their favorite team colors on Friday. I was thrilled to send them both to school wearing red and gold for the SF 49ers. Unfortunately in a state that had no professional teams, the colors they were looking for was UNC blue, UNC State Red etc. Neither kid was very happy with the NFL Mom. Katy was a brownies/girl scouts from 2nd grade through 5th grade. She was a B average all through 8th grade. Asheboro wasn’t the best fit for my children but I think they all learned some good life lessons. We added two daughters during the 7 years in North Carolina. We moved to St. Louis on Katy’s birthday June 12, 1998. During the summer of 1998 Katy had surgery for a tumor in her abdomen. It was a very frightening time for her and our family but we found an amazing doctor with an amazing heart, Timothy P. Murphy, who took care of Katy like she was his own. The tumor was benign, all prayers were answered. We enrolled Katy at Ursuline Academy. We couldn’t have found a better fit. She truly loved the school, the teachers, the staff, Doc H, Sr. Madonna her favorite man Mr. Daily and her funny man Mr. Fred. It was amazing to watch an amazing woman emerge during her 4 years at Ursuline. She faced a few headaches but handled all with grace. She graduated in 2002 as a strong, confident woman. She chose Central Missouri State University after Dad took her college shopping. She finished her first year with a 3.6 GPA.

The summer of 2003 we went on a road trip, myself as main driver, Katy as co-pilot and I had to call her that or she would not answer me, Granny in the back with Emily and Allison. We drove from St. Louis to Sacramento California for my beloved nephew Jason Frizado’s wedding to Sara Brownell. We had the greatest time on the drive out to CA and back to STL. I have always been close to Katy but that trip bonded us with the most wonderful relations allowed, a Mother/Daughter friendship. I am so grateful to have had that time with her. Laughing, sharing a darn bed with that blanket hog, drinking a beer together waiting for Chinese in some dumpy town, swimming, and talking a lot. We had a family reunion the week before Jason’s wedding and Katy met all of my cousins with the exception of Cleone. I am so grateful for that. I know she knew her family loved her unconditionally and I hope that gives her comfort for the time we wait until we are together again in some form or another.

Katy was killed when a driver of a red Honda tailgated her and when she wouldn’t move over he went around her, flipped her off and she returned the favor, he went in front of her and slammed on his brakes. She went across Hwy 70 flipped over and was hit by 2 cars. She was dead at the scene. She died July 27, 2003 at 4:25p.m. We were notified by the State Troopers at 1:00 a.m. It was just like some how you had stepped out of your body and watched this horror unfold. Our family is better for knowing and loving her and scared for losing her. I’m thankful for the 19 years 1 month and 15 days.

 

 

 

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