Cathryn Lorine Frisby, 102, Pontiac and formerly of Fairbury, died at 12:30 pm Thursday, December 21, 2023 at Evenglow Lodge, Pontiac.
Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 am Friday, December 29, 2023 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. Burial will follow in Avoca Twp. Cemetery, Fairbury.
Visitation will be 10:00 to 10:45 am at the Memorial Home on Friday. The family suggests memorials be given to McDowell Methodist Church; Livingston County 4H; Dominy Memorial Library, Fairbury, or Pontiac Library.
Cathryn was born May 14, 1921, the daughter of Christian Elmer “Bud” and Florence Lorine Shepherd Wink on a farm ½ mile north of her present home in a farming community.
She attended the Avoca Country school where she later taught. In 1939 she graduated from Fairbury Twp. High School and entered Illinois State Normal University in elementary education. It was not her first choice but finances and the acceptance of women in the medical surgical field was not available to her. She made up her mind to do her best in the field that was open to her.
Cathryn felt special to have been able to teach in a country school, then Fairbury School. She was asked to set up a program for the mentally educable in the City of Peoria.
Consolidation of country schools north of Fairbury and marriage to Bill Frisby on March 12, 1948, was her next chapter. He preceded her in death on January 17, 2009.
Cathryn and Bill are the parents of 3 daughters. She and Bill wanted FAMILY so very much. They enjoyed all family activities and were so glad to be included in many extended family activities.
After raising their family for 13 years, Cathryn was back in the classroom and retired in 1983. She had several coincidences, she taught in #148 where her mother had taught, and Bill entered 1st grade. She taught in Isaac Walton building in Fairbury where her mother had graduated from High School and she taught in the #144 building where she’d attended for 8 grades and then taught in the Westview Building that Bill had been on the school board to build and their girls attended.
Cathryn and Bill had been long time active members of the McDowell Church. She loved her family, the great outdoors, her flowers, reading, sewing (particularly quilting), and travel. Her GIRLS, her friends and students made her life meaningful. She liked people.
The family would like to express a special thank you to the staff and administration at Evenglow Lodge, Pontiac for their loving care.
