Cathryn Coe Craig was born April 22, 1945, in Clarinda, Iowa, the daughter of Robert Coe and Mary Elizabeth (Murphy) Craig. She was reared in Tarkio, Missouri, and was bright, adventurous and silly. She grew up back yard neighbors and inseparable best friends with her cousin of the same age, Jean, affectionately known as “Beaner.” Cathryn had nicknames for everyone. Tookie, Bo-Bo Berino, Joppy, and Tanny were just a few in the family. Even her self-given nickname was “Cass” from the constellation Cassiopeia because of her love of star gazing.

She had a horse named Crackerbox and Beaner had a horse, too. They would ride around their small town together and were a part of the Tarkio Roughriders. She enjoyed it very much and learned to be a trick rider.

Cathryn was a tomboy at heart who loved the outdoors and often shared that one of her favorite things was “swimming in warm water.” She loved the ocean and enjoyed boating and waterskiing. She was known to hop in an inner tube and invite you to float down the Meramec River with her!

She loved music and learned to play the flute, french horn, bass drum and piano. She was a natural at singing harmony. She especially loved listening to opera and a good symphony.

She graduated from Tarkio High School in 1963, and from Tarkio College in 1966 with a B.A. degree in Education and Physical Education. She taught Physical Education in Audubon, Iowa, for a time, then attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas, earning a Master’s degree in Physical Education in 1970. She then moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she taught Physical Education in the public schools, then at St. Mary’s Hall High School.

While living in San Antonio, she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was a faithful member throughout her life. Cathryn had a deep and abiding testimony of Jesus Christ. Among many teaching callings, she was willing to serve her church family as president of the primary children, and as president of the women’s Relief Society. She made sure the missionaries serving in her area were invited regularly to have meals in the homes of church members. She was unforgettable fun as a Young Women’s Camp director. She also served as a temple worker for many years in the St. Louis, Missouri, and Winter Quarters Nebraska temples. She loved studying the scriptures and was very knowledgeable of them. She was an “example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

She moved to Columbia, Missouri, to live with her sister, Jone. During that time they took on the challenge to each lose over 100 pounds and together they ran a diet center for a few years consulting with others through personal experience.

Cassie was gentle and compassionate. She had the gift of knowing just the right questions to get people to talk about themselves and feel cared about and at ease with her. She often looked after foreign college students, showing them how to navigate the town or the grocery stores, and included them when experiencing her favorite holidays, like Thanksgiving or fireworks on the 4th of July.

She was a voracious reader and always loved watching a good movie. Often if she had free time you would find her in her bed reading a good mystery thriller or even a Harlequin romance!

While living in Columbia, she attended Stephens College, earning a paralegal certificate in 1978. She took a job as a paralegal assistant at the Husch Eppenberger Law Firm in St. Louis, and served as president of the St. Louis Association of Legal Assistants.

She spent the majority of her adult life being especially helpful to her sister through extreme circumstances and her beloved parents as they aged. When her father died in 1988, she returned to Tarkio and managed her family’s farming affairs. Her sister Jone retired in 1990 and joined Cathryn and their mother in the family home at 1204 Maple, where they lived like the three amigos and had such fun together. While in Tarkio, Cathryn started her own desktop printing company and was involved in the Tarkio College Alumni Association, and served as its president for a term.

Cass was such easy company. Rarely did she ever complain. She loved spending family time with her parents, sister, nephew and niece, and had special bonds with her grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Taking them to the zoo, a national park, or some other fun adventure for the day was a joy to her and they all loved spending their time with Cassie, too!

Cass loved the tastes and treats of life! Her favorites included fried chicken, Diet Coke, chocolate anything, cherries, popcorn, and donuts. “Who doesn’t like a donut?”

Cathryn remained in Tarkio until 2006, when she returned to Columbia to live with her niece, Erin, and her family. When her health began to fade, it was easy to serve and take care of her because she had so willingly and lovingly been the sacrificing caregiver of all. As she aged, Cathryn lived in various assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in the Columbia area, and was also cared for by grand-niece Meridith Howell and her husband Donnie for a couple of years. She died April 28, 2026, in Columbia.

Cathryn is survived by her nephew, John Naylor (Mary Ellen) of Overland Park, Kansas, their children, Robert (Kathy), Joseph (Abbey), Andrew, Kate (Jared Manning), and James; and her niece, Erin Johns (Barry) of Columbia, and her children, Naomi (John Buell), Meridith (Donnie Howell), Jesse LaFond (Makayla), and Brice LaFond. Cathryn is also survived by 21 great-grandniblings.

Cathryn was laid to rest on May 1, 2026, in a private family interment at the Tarkio Home Cemetery. A memorial service will be held for her on Saturday, May 23, 2026, in the Tarkio Resource Center, beginning at 2:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, found on the internet at https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services/. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio. Online condolences may be made at www.minterfuneralchapels.com.