1928
Mrs.
2012
Mrs. Cathy Gunnison
September 22, 1928 — May 28, 2012
CATHY (LACKLAND) GUNNISON passed away peacefully on May 28, 2012 at the age of eighty-three surrounded by her three sons and long time partner.
Mom was born on September 22, 1928 in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois to Warner and Donna Lackland. She attended Gale Elementary and Sullivan High School and her Chicago and cherished Lake Michigan memories remained with her for her entire life.
Upon graduation from high school, Mom enrolled in Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois in 1946 and joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority during her freshman year. Her father had also gone to Knox earlier in the 1900's. It was also that year that she met her future husband, Bill Gunnison, who was working in the Pi Phi cafeteria on campus. They fell in love and upon Dad's graduation, they were married in Chicago in 1949 where Dad began a career in the insurance industry that spanned more than forty years.
Three sons were born to Cathy and Bill, Bob in 1950, Scott in 1953 and Mark in 1956. Dad accepted a job in 1966 with Employers Reinsurance in Kansas City and our family moved to Overland Park, Kansas that summer. Mom was the anchor at home while her sons were still young, and in later years, she was able to travel extensively with Dad and worked for many years as a secretary in the Shawnee Mission Unified School District. She took great pride in her second career and kept more than one principal in line.
Sadly, Dad died suddenly in 1988. Fortunately, in the midst of her grief, Mom was lucky to meet Harry Taff, who would become her partner for the rest of her life. Harry, a widower for many years, brought immeasurable happiness and contentment to Mom and they drew great strength from each other for the next twenty-three years while they traveled the world.
Mom is survived by her three sons, Bob and his wife Stacey and their two daughters Amanda and her husband Ryan and Samantha and her fiancé Cameron, Scott, his wife Rosemary and their two sons, Henry and Patrick and Mark and his wife Teri and their five children, Andy, Tom, Billy, Emily and Hannah. Mom is, of course, also survived by her beloved partner, Harry Taff and his wonderful loving family who were a large part of Mom's life.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, June 2, 2012 at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66210. Memorial contributions may be made to Pi Beta Phi at Knox College.
Our mother will be forever missed by her family and all of her friends. She was a source of strength for all that knew her and had extraordinary enthusiasm for all aspects of life that was clearly evident to everyone Mom touched. She left this world with the same grace and dignity that signified her life with us. She will rest in peace.
Bob, Scott, Mark Gunnison and Harry Taff
Mom was born on September 22, 1928 in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois to Warner and Donna Lackland. She attended Gale Elementary and Sullivan High School and her Chicago and cherished Lake Michigan memories remained with her for her entire life.
Upon graduation from high school, Mom enrolled in Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois in 1946 and joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority during her freshman year. Her father had also gone to Knox earlier in the 1900's. It was also that year that she met her future husband, Bill Gunnison, who was working in the Pi Phi cafeteria on campus. They fell in love and upon Dad's graduation, they were married in Chicago in 1949 where Dad began a career in the insurance industry that spanned more than forty years.
Three sons were born to Cathy and Bill, Bob in 1950, Scott in 1953 and Mark in 1956. Dad accepted a job in 1966 with Employers Reinsurance in Kansas City and our family moved to Overland Park, Kansas that summer. Mom was the anchor at home while her sons were still young, and in later years, she was able to travel extensively with Dad and worked for many years as a secretary in the Shawnee Mission Unified School District. She took great pride in her second career and kept more than one principal in line.
Sadly, Dad died suddenly in 1988. Fortunately, in the midst of her grief, Mom was lucky to meet Harry Taff, who would become her partner for the rest of her life. Harry, a widower for many years, brought immeasurable happiness and contentment to Mom and they drew great strength from each other for the next twenty-three years while they traveled the world.
Mom is survived by her three sons, Bob and his wife Stacey and their two daughters Amanda and her husband Ryan and Samantha and her fiancé Cameron, Scott, his wife Rosemary and their two sons, Henry and Patrick and Mark and his wife Teri and their five children, Andy, Tom, Billy, Emily and Hannah. Mom is, of course, also survived by her beloved partner, Harry Taff and his wonderful loving family who were a large part of Mom's life.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, June 2, 2012 at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66210. Memorial contributions may be made to Pi Beta Phi at Knox College.
Our mother will be forever missed by her family and all of her friends. She was a source of strength for all that knew her and had extraordinary enthusiasm for all aspects of life that was clearly evident to everyone Mom touched. She left this world with the same grace and dignity that signified her life with us. She will rest in peace.
Bob, Scott, Mark Gunnison and Harry Taff
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