Cathryn Ann Kearns passed away unexpectedly of a stroke on February 23, 2018. She was 38 years old.
Cathryn was born on October 5, 1979 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Patrick and Jean Kearns. She moved to Kingwood, Texas in 1982 and attended school at Greentree Elementary and Creekwood Middle School. In 1994, she moved to Peachtree City, Ga. and graduated from McIntosh High School.
She was an amazing educator for the past 15 years, graduating with a degree in Education from Georgia State University and later earning a Master’s degree from Central Michigan, and a certification in gifted education. She started her teaching career at Adamson Middle School, where she also coached the cheerleading squad. For the past 12 years, Cathryn was a beloved teacher at Sutton Middle School for the Atlanta Public School system, working with an average of 130 students each day. She was the English Language Arts 6th grade content lead, taught in the summer school and Cougar Premier Summer Orientation Program, and was in charge of the Sunshine Committee.
Her other love besides teaching was coaching middle school sports. Cathryn started the volleyball program at Sutton, and spent the last 8 years coaching the volleyball team. She also coached in the intramural program for basketball, yoga, and the 5k run teams. Cathryn dedicated herself to education and loved her students and fellow colleagues at Sutton. In addition, she was an avid philanthropist. She and her students, collected can pop tops to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charity. Her sister, Carrie, who suffered from leukemia, and her family benefited greatly from this organization. She also raised over $20,000 for breast cancer awareness through many different types of fundraisers following the passing of her mother, Jean, after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Cathryn is survived by her father Patrick Kearns; brother, Colin (Drift) Kearns; nieces and nephew Kiera, Keely, and Kason Kearns; aunts and uncles, Maureen (Mike) Bartel, Carol (Ken) Boyd, Donna Brennan, Jim (Kay) Brennan, Mary (Allen) Holle, Mark (Rita) Kearns, Bob Maitrejean, Kay Murray, Audrey (Bill) Nisbit, Mary (John) Nelson, Sharon (John) Sias, Bette Stephens, and Ann Williams; and many cousins and friends.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Jean Kearns; her sister, Carrie Kearns; grandparents, Clarence and Kathryn Brennan and Walter and Eleanor Kearns; aunts and uncles: Jerry Brennan, John Brennan, Pat Brennan, Robert Brennan, Arlene (Frenchy) Germain, Mike Kearns, Doris Maitrejean, John Murray, and Donald Stephens.
A celebration of her life was held on Tuesday, February 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Northside United Methodist Church at 2799 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30305. A memorial service will be held on March 3, 2018 12 p.m at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Erin Prairie, 1880 County Road G, New Richmond, Wis. 54017. The family will receive visitors at 11 a.m prior to the service.
Erin Prairie is a small farming village that was settled in the 1860s by Cathryn’s great-great- grandparents from both sides of her family. Cathryn will be buried with hundreds of these ancestors and relatives including her sister, Carrie, and her mom, Jean.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Inc. and/or St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. If you are unable to attend services, memorial gifts can be sent to CullenCrea Funeral Home, 307 South Arch Avenue, New Richmond, Wis. 54017 and they will be forwarded to the family.
Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Peachtree City – www.mowellfuneralhome.com.
