Catherine Dycus, 100, passed away on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Catherine, better known as "Kak" by her

friends and family, was born on August 12, 1920. She was raised in Hammond, Indiana by her parents,

James C. and Georgia (Bell) Dycus. After graduating from Hammond High School, she attended Iowa

State Teachers College for her Bachelor of Arts degree and Peabody College for her Master of Arts

degree. During the war years she taught music in Donnellson, Iowa. She then returned home to teach for

a time in Hammond. In 1947 she moved to Virginia where she furthered her education at the College of

William and Mary. She taught English, band, and chorus in Hampton and later in Newport News. In

1953 Catherine became the Supervisor of Music for the Newport News school system. From 1962 - 1963

she was President of the Virginia Music Educators Association. Catherine was also a member of Delta

Kappa Gamma. After her retirement, in 1979, she joined the Lifelong Learning Society at Christopher

Newport University and was an active member until her death. She also enjoyed being a choir member at

St. John's Episcopal Church in Hampton, Virginia. Catherine loved reading and would often be reading

two or more books at a time. She wrote and published a book of family reminiscences and was the author

of many poems and limericks. She loved to travel and had many adventures. She enjoyed visiting with

friends and family all across the country. She was the "Mary Poppins" for her many nieces and nephews,

creating memories for and with them that they still talk about today. She will be remembered and loved

by the many people whose lives she touched and enhanced during her almost 101 years of life.

Catherine is preceded in death by her parents, James C. and Georgia Dycus; her brother, James T. Dycus

and his wife, Dorothy; her brother, Robert C. (Bill) Dycus and his wife, Mary Lucille; her niece, Bobby

Jean Dycus; and dearest friends, Georgiana and Billy Cumming, and Sarah Wade Owen. Catherine is

survived by her much loved family including nieces Margaret Dale (Larry) Lane, Jane Louise (Richard)

Foster, Carroll Lee (Paul) Carter, Mary Ann (Frank) Szyper, Dorothy Kay Dycus, and Janet Sue Randall;

and nephews William James Dycus and Davy Thomas Dycus; and her beloved goddaughter, Frances

(Don) Klovstad; as well as many grand and great nieces and nephews from across the country. Her love

of life and family and her quirky sense of humor will be missed by friends in Virginia; friends and family

in Kentucky and Indiana; and family in Arizona, Florida, Washington State, Wisconsin, Illinois, and

Oklahoma.

The family will receive friends from 3:00 - 4:00 PM on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, 245 S. Armistead Avenue, Hampton.  Due to Covid restrictions, a private memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 11,  and those wishing to attend "virtually" should CLICK HERE.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Life Long Learning Society c/o Jane Sulzberger, Director at 660 Hamilton Drive, Newport News, Virginia 23602.