Catharine Krebs Waddell Moore Enfield

Catherine Enfield (past)

Catharine Enfield (past)

Catherine Enfield (recent)

Catharine Enfield (recent)

Catharine Krebs Waddell Moore Enfield, 106, longtime Hereford resident went home to her Lord and Savior on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2013, in Hereford.

Viewing and visitation will be held on Friday, December 27, 2013 at Hereford Heritage Funeral Home, 411 E 6th Street. A private burial will take place at a later time. Services are under the direction of Hereford Heritage Funeral Home.

Catharine was born in Gibson Township, Cameron County, Pennsylvania on March 8, 1907 to Lawrence Edward Newton Krebs and Mary Eleanor Jenson Krebs. She was the eldest daughter of 5 siblings who are now all deceased.

Her formal education ended in the 9th grade after her father was killed in an explosion at the powder plant where he worked. To help support her siblings, Catharine and her mother took in laundry and she also worked at the Jell-O gelatin factory in LeRoy, New York. In 1925 she married LeeRoy Kenneth Waddell and they had one daughter, RosaLee Eleanor, in 1926. Seeking to improve herself, Catharine attended the famed Fannie Farmer’s Boston Cooking-School and worked as a housekeeper and travel companion for the prominent Miss Ruth Keeney of LeRoy. In 1938, Catharine’s husband of 13 years was killed suddenly in an explosion at the same powder plant as her father.

Love of reading brought an article by Dr. George W. Heard, a dentist in Hereford and the first promoter of fluoride, to her attention. She thought Hereford sounded like a nice town so she and her daughter boarded a train and moved there sight unseen in 1941. Knowing no one upon arrival, they rented a bedroom from Mr. and Mr. Ireland and Catharine soon found a job working for Frasier Milling and then later at Patton Insurance.

On Valentine’s Day in 1945, Catharine married Norman Moore from Batavia, New York. They owned Hereford Produce and Fertilizer where she was the secretary. She was very active in many Hereford clubs and organizations including the Hereford Garden Club, Home Demonstration, Beta Sigma Phi, Study Club, Bridge Club, past matron and a 60 year + member of Eastern Star and First Presbyterian Church. She and Norm traveled extensively promoting their Hereford business and made many close friends across the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving Day in 1965, Norman Moore passed away in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

In 1966, Catharine married Morris Enfield Sr. who was also in the produce business and they moved to San Benito, TX.Morris Enfield Sr. passed away in 1981.

Catharine moved back to Hereford in 1991 to be closer to family and live in the Hereford home she had kept since 1945. Another move came in 1996 when she moved to the country to live with her granddaughter. Still able to do for herself, she enjoyed the animals, gardening, and visits with friends. After being part of King’s Manor Adult Day Care for several years, she moved to Westgate in June of 2007.

Celebrating her 106th birthday in March of this year, Catharine has always been an inspiration to her family and all those who have known her, especially her 5 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. From growing up and hiking in the Allegheny Mountains to working various jobs from New York to Texas to the Navy Department in Washington, DC during WWII. She believed in hard work, helping those less fortunate, and being thankful in all things. She loved reading; all types of needle work; gardening, especially roses; cooking, playing piano and the organ and entertaining family and friends.

Although Catharine is now with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, she remains in our hearts and memories always.

Preceding her in death were her parents, brothers Clyde, Lawrence, and Cyril Krebs, and sisters Irene Baratie and Violet Klosse. Her daughter RosaLee and son-in-law C. T. Thames of Hereford.

A special thank you to the staff at Kings Manor, most especially Isabel Alejandre and Samaritan Hospice.

Catharine is survived by 3 grandchildren- Linda Williams and husband Richard of Hereford, Cathy Thames of Dimmitt, and Gary Thames and wife Tracey of Taylor, Michigan. Five great grandchildren – Bruce Williams of Boston, RickaCadena and husband Tomas of Hawaii, Ashleigh, Cody and Clayton Thames of Taylor, Michigan. Two great-great granddaughters – Vacious and Blythe Cadena of Hawaii.

The family suggests memorials be to Kings Manor of Hereford or the Catharine Enfield book fund at the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, Harvard University, 3 James Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Express your condolences and sign the online guest book at www.herefordheritagefh.com.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/01/04/catharine-krebs-waddell-moore-enfield/

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