Catherine Marzelle Sitzes

Catherine Sitzes went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, March 13, 2008. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 17, 2008 at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, March 16 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Catherine was born in Quitman, Mississippi, to the late Will and Zama Huggins on October 5, 1929. Her father was a coach and school superintendent for 40 years. After graduating from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and the Language Arts, she taught school in Laurel and Quitman, Mississippi prior to her employment with the American Book Company as a consultant in the language arts. She traveled extensively with her job to places like Asheville, NC, Savannah, GA, New Orleans, LA, and Dallas, TX. On one such trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, Catherine providentially met another fellow employee, O.J. Sitzes. On August 5, 1956, they began their loving journey together as husband and wife for the next 52 years. They moved to Abilene where Catherine was employed in 1956-1957 by AISD Superintendent Polly Wells, Administrator Donald McDonald, and Principal Malcolm Anthony, to teach the language arts at North Junior High School. In later years, Catherine was involved in her family business at Abilene Portable Buildings and most recently Sitzes Self Storage. She also served as president of the local Pan-Hellenic organization and president of the Women's Board of Realtors. Music was one of Catherine's most beloved forms of ministry to others. She was a gifted organist and pianist. It was early in her life that she began serving the Lord through music as the pianist for The First Baptist Church of Quitman, Mississippi. She continued that service at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church for 22 years until she retired in 1987. She played for hundreds of weddings and funerals, and enjoyed sharing her musical talent with civic and social organizations. Catherine broadened her style of music by playing the organ in a combo band, "The Sugar Beats" In later years she played for several gospel quartets, the latest being known as "Catherine and the Boys." Catherine was an avid bridge player. She was involved in several clubs throughout the years and many close friendships were developed around the bridge table. Every fall Catherine looked forward to gathering pecans form her trees. She developed quite a reputation for her pralines that she lovingly made from those pecans. On any given Saturday, Catherine could be found at a local auction. She loved collecting small pitchers and acquiring any other great bargains. Mother, we love you and will miss your presence in our family lake gatherings, but we are comforted by knowing that you are enjoying and playing the Angelic music that our loving Father has composed for us all. Catherine is survived by her devoted husband, O.J. Sitzes; daughter, Dr. Jeannie Haseman and son-in-law, Dr. Joe Haseman, and their children, Will, Catherine and Jack, all of Evansville, Indiana; son, Steve Sitzes and his wife Julianne, of Abilene, and their sons, Zach, of North Richland Hills, Zane, of Waco, and Tyler, of Abilene. Memorials may be sent in honor of Catherine Sitzes to Pioneer Drive Baptist Church Library Fund, 701 South Pioneer Drive, Abilene, Texas 79605.