Catherine Cole Brown, a long-time resident of Borger, Texas, and Cheyenne, Okla., was born March 4, 1939, to Harry Leslie and Lola Marjorie Henning, two Texas pioneers who had come to Oklahoma to settle.

It was pre-World War II but post-Dust Bowl and Great Depression, and life was hard for the working class in western Oklahoma. Harry was a true cowboy, and Lola was an accomplished cook and homemaker who managed to pull the family through hard times in the 40's with practically nothing at times.

Family stories from this era told by Catherine, known as "Kitty-Lou" in childhood, included living in temporary houses, with family members working all sorts of odd jobs, and cooking with creative menus to maximize scarce provisions. Catherine sometimes operated the telephone switchboard, a job held by her mom, in the nearby town of Reydon. She also pulled broomcorn and cotton and swept out the school bus.

Catherine was the middle child of five siblings. All five attended college and turned the corner from poverty while keeping their values and family orientation strong. Ronald Henning of Amarillo, Texas, Ruby Hiatt of Yukon, Oklahoma, and Ruth Schoenhals of Perryton, Texas, survive Catherine. Brother Leslie Henning of Marysville, Washington, preceded her in death earlier this year.

Catherine met her sweetheart, Jack Cole, and they were married while in college. Jack was also a first-generation college graduate. They made a life together in Borger.

Catherine is survived by her two sons, Terry Cole and Paul Cole, both of Austin, Texas. She has two grandchildren, Lucia Sewing-Cole and Laura Cole, also of Austin. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Catherine trained to teach mathematics and became a lifelong advocate for young adults. She taught remedial math in junior high and moved up to high school, teaching high school math to students of all levels for about three decades. She advocated for students in many other ways as well. She was an active sponsor of student activities. She welcomed the first black student into the math club, a feat not simple In the early 60's. She began teaching computer programming and computer applications long before the impact of computers was widely recognized in education. Catherine advocated for and brought Borger High School students their first computer lab.

Jack Cole died unexpectedly in 1987, and Catherine retired from teaching after her youngest child graduated from high school. Catherine never lost her ties to Cheyenne and Roger Mills County. After her parents retired there, she visited them frequently.

Catherine was married to Leon Brown in 1995 and they moved to Cheyenne, where they made a home together, socializing and traveling frequently. Catherine continued to advocate to young people by tutoring those behind in school and leading a youth choir at her church. She became a widow for a second time in 2019.

Catherine was known for her artistic hobbies and regarded as fiercely independent by those who were her friends and who helped care for her. Catherine passed away in Elk City on September 20, 2022 with her family at her side singing gospel hymns. She was 83.

Her funeral was conducted at Reydon Baptist Church. She is being laid to rest next to her first husband, Jack Cole, at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Borger, Texas.