Catharine "Kitty" Harris

Catharine Wroth Hepbron Harris passed from this life into her next on Friday, January 29, 2016. She was 103. “Mrs. Kitty” was born on September 8, 1912, to William Jackson Hepbron and Grace Ringgold Price Hepbron in Still Pond, MD. She spent her entire life in Kent County. She was a 1929 graduate of Chestertown High School and attended Washington College Class of 1933, where she was a member of Sigma Tau Delta sorority. She married Carson West Harris on April 13, 1935, and at the time of his death in 1977, had been married for 41 years. Carson was farm manager for several farms in the area including Orchard Point Farm and later Cacaway Farm. It was through farming that they befriended the Walbert family and shared in the joy of their children JoAnne Beatrice Walbert Bigelow and Owen Eugene Walbert. Catharine joined the Old Kent Chapter DAR on May 2, 1942, making her a 72-year member. She had a passion for genealogy and was known for her acute memory of Kent families and their history. She began work outside of their home in 1962 at LaMotte Chemical shortly after the company opened a plant in Chestertown. She worked in the printing department and retired after 25 years of service. She continued to attend social events such as the annual summer picnic and Christmas party up to 2015. Catharine enjoyed handwork such as sewing, quilting, and knitting. She donated over 500 knitted hats for the newborns to Kent & Queen Anne’s Hospital obstetrics department. She spent summers at Court House Point in Cecil County where she was able to tend her flower gardens. She attended the monthly flea market at the Singerly Fire House and kept an eye out for antiques and Kent County postcards. She made her home with her name sake Catharine Ann Bigelow Neff, husband William, and son, Warren, of Chestertown, MD. She attended church services at Sacred Heart Church with the Neffs, where she served as a catechist volunteer and role model for a godly woman. Mrs. Kitty had the blessing of companionship with caregivers from Seniors at Home especially Holly Elburn VanDyke. She was preceded in death by her brother, William Jackson Hepbron, Jr. She is survived by her sisters, Nancy Maxwell Hepbron Stanton of Chesapeake City, MD; Mary Alice Hepbron Colman of Hockessin, DE; four nieces - Mary Catharine Schreiber Cooling, Nancy Sharon Hepbron Ash (Stephen), Susan Hepbron Schaar, Carol Grace Hepbron Tinney; and nephew William Jackson Hepbron, III (Donna). From her “adopted” family she was preceded in death by her “daughter” JoAnne and “grandson” Pierson Walter Bigelow, Jr. She was survived by a “son” Owen (Debbie); “granddaughters” Catharine and Mary Jean Bigelow Kennedy (George, Sr.) and their children. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m. on Friday, February 12, 2016, at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home in Chestertown. A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2016, at Christ I.U. Episcopal Church, in Worton. Interment will follow in Christ I.U. Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Christ I.U. Church, 25328 Lambs Meadow Rd. Worton, MD 21678.

Catharine "Kitty" Harris

September 8, 1912 - January 29, 2016