Catherine Anne Claypool

Catherine Anne Claypool passed away on December 26, 2025. Cathy was born in Marshall to Lester and Carolyn B. (Samson) Sipe on December 7, 1941. Lester would forever be reminded of his mistaken priorities that day, when he told Carolyn, “The war has started. It’s a Girl!” Cathy is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Allan Judson Claypool and her brother, Larry Sipe. She is survived by daughter, Lisa (Robin), son, Alex (Hilary, grandsons Benjamin and Thomas), sister-in-law Barbara, and numerous nieces, nephew and cousins.

Cathy was passionate about life. She was a consummate student and educator, travelling extensively, taking every opportunity to learn new things, and educating others in both formal and informal settings.

After graduating from Battle Creek High School, Cathy earned a BA in Education from the University of Michigan, and thereafter travelled to Egypt as a Community Ambassador. Shortly after beginning her teaching career, Allan, her high school crush, came home for Christmas break from the Naval Academy and proposed. Married on June 14, 1966, they lived briefly in Virginia and then returned to Ann Arbor so Allan could earn his JD. Once graduated, they moved to Lansing, where Allan began his career, and they became part of the Foster, Swift family, developing friendships that lasted their lifetimes.

Cathy was involved in and held leadership positions with numerous organizations including Parent-Teacher Organizations, the Lansing Symphony, the Lansing Women’s Club, the Meridian Garden Club, and many others. Cathy was also known for her passion for the holidays, especially Halloween, when, for over 40 years, she performed for trick-or-treaters in her witch’s costume. In recent years, she enjoyed having former trick-or-treaters, now parents, bring their children to meet the same Halloween witch they knew as children, to taste her delicacies of “fried toad eyeballs” and “boiled spider’s legs”. Most recently, Cathy’s passions were her grandsons, her gardens, and the Potter Park Zoo.

Cathy developed and maintained friendships at every stage of her life and was well known for never missing the opportunity to celebrate a birthday. Her children relished daily phone calls with her, even if the topic of the day was just the weather in Michigan. It seems fitting to celebrate Cathy’s life during Christmas, when the family’s home of 40 years is emblazoned with the Christmas lights she adored. The light display reminds us of the indelible impression of passion and wonder she left on so many.

A viewing will be held at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw St., Lansing, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Friday, January 2, 2026, with a service to follow at 4:00 p.m. Cathy will journey to Marengo Pioneer Cemetery in Marshall, Michigan, on Saturday for a private Interment.

In lieu of flowers, the family recommends memorial donations to the Potter Park Zoo or Ascension Lutheran Church.