Mrs. Katherine E. Beaton's Obituary
KATHERINE “KENNA” MACINTYRE BEATON
Mom was born April 5, 1926, on the family farm on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. She was a member of the MacIntyre Clan and a very proud Highland Scot, through and through. At age 18, she left the farm to work with air traffic control in Halifax. Within a year, she returned home to attend to her mother, Bessie MacIsaac MacIntyre, who had become very ill. Her father, Francis MacIntyre, died within a few months of our mom returning home. Her mother passed within months of her father’s passing. Mom was the second oldest girl in a family of 13. The older boys were in the service at the time leaving mom as the oldest surviving sibling at home. Mom assumed the care of her 3 younger sisters, ages 6 to 9, Theresa, Martha, and Maisie.
Mom married another proud Scot, Donald Archie Beaton, in 1950, in Toronto, Canada. Our mother had spurned our father’s first request for her hand due to her responsibility to her younger sisters. Consequently, Dad joined the service. Upon returning to Cape Breton 4-1/2 years later, he discovered Mom had moved with her 3 younger sisters to Toronto, Canada to find work. He rode the boxcars to Toronto to find his love, not knowing if she was still in Toronto. He stood on the busiest corner all day long hopefully gazing at the passing throng, searching for treasure rare to find. The two loves found each other and immediately married. Mom and Dad started our family while still caring for the 3 younger sisters. Mom also insisted we help our Dad’s parents by bringing them from Nova Scotia to live with us. Mom, Dad and family traveled throughout Canada and the U.S. following construction work until 1964 when they settled with their 5 children in Marine City, Michigan.
Our mother epitomized God’s love, eternally sharing, caring, forgiving, and understanding. Everyone and anyone was always welcome in our house. She would share everything she could with friends, family, and anyone else in need.
After we left home and embarked on our separate lives, Mom and Dad travelled to the State Hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan, to visit the handicapped children who were wards of the State. Mom immediately fell in love with the most physically and mentally handicapped child, Tara. Tara was also the child most in need of love. Tara suffered with Cerebral Palsy. She could not walk, talk, or feed herself, but she sure could laugh. Mom brought Tara home and commenced to shower her with love for many years. After mom’s debilitating back condition made it impossible for her to continue to lift Tara, Mom fought with Michigan Social Services and eventually forced them to open a totally dependent halfway house for minors in St. Clair County. However, by the time Mom won that battle, Tara turned 18. Mom began anew and battled until Michigan Social Services relinquished and opened a totally dependent halfway house for adults, thereby providing Tara with lifetime care.
Words cannot describe the immense love that flowed out of our mother. Truly, the love of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, was poured into her daily which she readily shared with all she came into contact with. Our Lord came for Mom at 5:20 a.m. on 12/15/14 with her sister, Martha, holding her hand and praying over her. Mom co-redeemed many souls while she willingly suffered for the last 4 years both physically and from Alzheimer’s. However, the constant and continuing joy she experienced and projected due to her relationship with Christ could be heard in her voice, felt in her touch, and seen in her eyes and her smile until the day she passed on. We love you Mom and can feel you with Jesus in our hearts today!
Celebration of Life visitation at Young’s Funeral Home, St. Clair, Michigan, Friday December 19th, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Mass at Holy Cross Church, Marine City, Michigan at 11:00 a.m. Family will receive visitors at the church from 10-11 a.m. prior to mass. Donations can be made to Ronald McDonald House.
Husband: Donald Archie Beaton (deceased 1997). Children: Kevin (Janice), Bruce (Sherry), Lorne (Kathy), Loraine (Jon), Bobby (Melanie). Grandchildren: Jessica, Chelsea, Keegan, Heather, Ryan, Breagh, Shane, Scot Angus (deceased), Joshua, Katherine Elizabeth (namesake), Iain, Bradley, Chantel, Brianna, and Alec. Great Grandchildren: Mikayla and Noah. Siblings: Nellie, Hector, John, Alec, Charlie, Joe, Frank, Paul, Stanley, Maisie, Martha, Theresa. She had many loving brothers and sisters-in law, especially Mary Beaton, who she loved as a sister, nieces and nephews, and countless other family and friends.
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