Catharine C. Marble

In Lander, Wyo., on June 11, 1922, the world became a bit more beautiful and a great deal more kind as Catharine Mary Connaghan Marble was born. Catharine peacefully made her exit from this world in the early morning hours of Nov. 1, 2015, age 93. Catharine was the firstborn, and much doted on, daughter of Robert Charles Connaghan and Mary Mathilda Ryan Connaghan. Her beloved brother, Bob, joined the family less than two years later. The Connaghans moved from Lander to Cheyenne when Catharine, or Kate as she was called, was a small girl. Her father was transferred there by the Department of the Interior to consolidate the Registrar of Land Office. At the age of 7, Kate's parents gifted her with a shiny, black, baby grand piano, and she learned to play it well. Her children remember her playing everything from Chopin to Joplin, with plenty of children's songs in between on that very same baby grand. Kate attended school in Cheyenne, became a favorite model for the local newspaper (which eventually led to her being on the cover of Colliers Magazine, with her sister-in-law Arta Hutchins Connaghan, in 1947 for Cheyenne Frontier Days), and met the "dashing, handsome football star" (her brother's words) whom she would later marry, Fred Marble. Kate's parents valued education and the opportunities of the West. They encouraged her to attend college and suggested Stanford University, in Palo Alto, Calif., as a good school. Kate rode the train to Stanford and graduated with a history degree in 1944. It was the midst of World War II and, upon graduation, Kate returned to Cheyenne to help her parents during that tough time of war. Kate married Fred Marble Jr. on April 24, 1946, one week after Fred returned from naval duty in the Pacific. They moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., where Fred completed his war-interrupted studies at the University of Michigan. From Michigan, they moved to Billings, where Fred had the opportunity to either manage a sheep ranch southeast of Miles City or work at the First National Bank as a teller. Kate chose Billings and the bank. Seven Marble children rolled into their lives between 1948 and 1959. They are: Cathy Glennon (Mike), Francie Marble, Fred Marble III (Sheryl), the Honorable Colorado State Senator Vicki Marble, Cynthia Marble (Scott Kreamer), Anner Marble (Mike Cardoza) and Roberta Marble (John McFadden). From Kate's children came a bevy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Katie Glennon (Shelby Waldron, Reese, Sy), Kellie Knaub (Bryan, Logan, Luke, Kelsey), Ben Turnbull (Rene, Kaden, Ryan, Brody), Ellie Marble (Cavan, Tae), Aaron Donoho, Meri Marble (Jamie Nevarez, Manny), Claire Reitz, Wells Reitz, Nathan Donoho, Isaac Marble, Robbie Donoho (Lisa), Chase Cardoza, Drew Cardoza, Katie Kreamer, Stephanie Kreamer. Kate was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Marble Jr.; her parents; her brother, Bob Connaghan, his wife, Arta Connaghan, and their son, Chuck Connaghan. Kate was committed to her home and family, and, like her parents, she promoted education for her children. Her home was full of all types of music, art, literature, poetry, technology and cultural art collected from her travels around the world. She volunteered at her children's schools, at St. Vincent De Paul and was a member of the Junior League in Billings. Kate was a fan and supporter of the YAM, Billings Studio Theatre and the Billings Symphony. She regularly attended the Symphony with her good friend, Dorothy Peete, up until her death. She encouraged and modeled a broad perspective on life and the world. An avid bird watcher, Kate knew scores of birds by sight and song. She played mean games of bridge, tennis and golf - including a hole in one at La Quinta. She was more inclined toward action than discussion, except when it came to swimming in the Big Ditch or Yellowstone River, and riding motorcycles. These activities were vociferously forbidden. As the family grew, Kate kept an open home and, for many years, she hosted and cooked for family events - Holiday dinners, the tradition of Christmas cookie decorating, family dinners and casual bowls of soup. She was an excellent cook and baker. When she and Fred "retired" to La Quinta, Calif., to escape Montana winters, family was welcomed for vacations in the warm desert sun. Kate's family extends loving thanks and gratitude to her fabulous, loving companion/caregivers for the past eight years: Roberta Marble, Meri Marble, Linda Wilson, Denise Rivette, Colleen Lehman, Teresa Tafoya, Cynthia Marble, Francie Marble. Deep thanks to the compassionate and professional nursing staff at Deaconess Hospital, and to Dr. Gerstner, Kate's Wyoming compadre, for his wonderful, personal attention to, and care of Kate. Prayer vigil for Kate will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. Life Celebration Mass is at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 2055 Woody Drive, with interment in Mountview Cemetery. The family will host a lunch reception at the Yellowstone Country Club following the service.