Katharine "Kitty" Shearer

Katharine Margaret “Kitty” MacDougall Shearer
Laingsburg, Michigan

Born January 18, 1936, in Chicago, IL, the only child of the late Neil E. and Carroll L. (Cruse) MacDougall passed away on August 31, 2015, at the age of 79.

She moved to Lansing in 1946 and graduated from Lansing Sexton High School in January of 1954.  She attended Albion College in Albion, MI for 2 years, where she was a Kappa Alpha Theta.  She married the love of her life, Peter P. Shearer, on April 12, 1958 and they recently celebrated their 57th anniversary.  She and Peter have 5 children, 15 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

She loved being a stay-at-home mom to raise her five children, but occasionally held part time jobs that she enjoyed, including Puss in the Corner, Inc., First of America Bank, U.S. Government/Census Bureau, Gibson Greeting Card Co. and her own company, Out of the Barn Antiques.  She participated in the Junior League of Lansing, Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae, River Ridge Garden Club – President and Vice President and Dewitt Lioness – Vice President.  She and Peter also bought and renovated a 100-year-old farmhouse in Laingsburg in 1984, where Kitty enjoyed gardening and refinishing antiques.

Kitty was preceded in death by her parents and her granddaughter, Katelyn Elizabeth Mattice.  She is survived by her husband, Peter of 57 years; 5 children, Carroll (Kale) Gallatin, Peter (Cindy), Michael, Katie (Michael) Mattice and Betsy (Jason) Marko; 14 grandchildren, Kate and Thomas Gallatin, Jackson, Evan and Maddie Shearer, Victoria (Jake) Bonotto, Kristi, Zachary and Heather Shearer, Kara, Lizzie and Jack Mattice and Ellie and Ty Marko; and 1 great-grandchild, Landen Bonotto.

The funeral service will be held at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw, Lansing, MI 48933 on Saturday, September 5, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. Burial to follow at Reed Cemetery in Laingsburg, MI. Visitation will be also be at Estes-Leadley from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2015.

The Family would like to thank Dena Baker, close family friend and Kitty’s nurse; the Staff of Breslin Cancer Center, especially Joe and Therese; Dr. Barbara Fretwell and her nurse, Abby; and McLaren Home Care and Hospice staff, especially Carol, who gave such wonderful care mixed with kindness and gentleness, Kerri and Doug, Margie and Karen.

Donations may be made in memory of Kitty to either McLaren Hospice, 1515 Cal Drive, Davison, MI 48423 or to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/kitty-shearer/memorial.

Print Obituary

8 Messages to “Katharine "Kitty" Shearer

Print Messages
Shelley Mull
September 2, 2015 at 12:57 pm

Pete and Family — I am so sorry. Kitty was a great woman and will be missed dearly by all of you and others as well. You are all in my prayers.

Reply
Paul Love
September 2, 2015 at 7:53 pm

A wonderful sweet lady, she will be greatly missed by all of us.

Reply
Michael & Linda Dickson
September 2, 2015 at 8:56 pm

We were truly blessed to have Kitty as our friend and neighbor for 25 years. She was always there with her time, love and kindness and was like a sister to me. Heaven has gained a wonderful soul. RIP Kitty!

Reply
Sue (Maschke) Randall
September 3, 2015 at 7:51 am

Kitty was a lifelong second mom to my family and my mom’s best friend. She was the sweetest lady with a heart of gold. She would do anything for anybody. Kitty will be missed but NEVER forgotten. My thoughts and prayers go out to the whole Shearer family. Love you

Reply
Dena R Baker
September 3, 2015 at 8:28 am

Pete, Carroll, Peter, Michael, Katie and Betsy~ The comfort, peace, laughter and love each of you brought to Kitty as she battled these last 15 months was absolutely remarkable to watch and was the ONLY reason she beat all the statistics. Kitty will be missed by everyone who knew her but I know she will be missed most by each of you. RIP Kitty…you have earned your heavenly reward! I am praying for God’s peace and comfort to surround you all and for this time be filled with little moments that remind you of how much she lived for and loved each of you!

Reply
Irene and Bill Ober
September 3, 2015 at 1:09 pm

Our thoughts and prayers are with your whole family. We only knew Kitty a short span of years while we all were ‘snow birds’ in Florida, but we loved her and will miss her!

Reply
Steve Boehm
September 4, 2015 at 6:50 am

Peter and Family,

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Reply
Larry Lennon & Family
September 5, 2015 at 7:17 pm

We were saddened to hear of Kitty’s passing. Please accept our deepest condolences for your families loss. We remember her from the River Ridge neighborhood.

Larry Lennon

Reply

Please Sign The Guestbook

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *