Catherine “Katy” Brown Sturgell, age 95, passed away into God’s loving arms at 4:50 p.m. Monday, November 28, 2016 while residing at Paris Health Care Center in Paris, Illinois. Catherine was born on March 12, 1921 in Vermilion, Illinois to the late Hershel and Ruth (Howald) Brown. Catherine enjoyed life to the fullest. She attended Vermilion School until she was a junior in high school when she began attending Paris High School, where she graduated in 1938. After graduation she attended Wabash Brown’s Business College in Terre Haute, Indiana. She married William “Bill” Sturgell June 6, 1947. During their marriage they managed the then Blume Funeral Home in Paris and later owned Sturgell Funeral Home in Ramsey, Illinois where they raised their five children; Rebecca, Terry, Betty Kay, Cindy, and Mark. They returned to Paris after Bill became disabled from Parkinson’s Disease. Catherine enjoyed working as a secretary and bookkeeper for several businesses throughout her career, including Edgar County Farm Bureau, District 95 Superintendent’s Office, Cochran’s Fertilizer Plant, Illini FS, and Farm Town. She also sold Shaklee Products for many years. Her most rewarding job was the six years she volunteered as an Eagle Helper and lunch aid at Crestwood School, where she was known as “Grandma” by all the students. She was an active member of the Edgar County Rural Youth, Edgar County 4-H Association, Edgar County Home Extension, Paris High School Band Parent’s Association, 4-H Leader of the Success Boosters 4-H Club for many years, Hospice volunteer, and a volunteer for Faith in Action. Catherine was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Paris, until its closing. While attending Trinity, she served on numerous committees, as a Sunday School teacher, a delegate to Annual Conference, was active in United Methodist Women, and also was an officer of the District United Methodist Women Board. In her later years, she became a member of the Paris First United Methodist Church where she remained a member until her passing. Her family’s fondest memory is of the club she, along with several other ladies in the Paris area, formed during World War II. The club was known as the BB Club. The ladies never disclosed what BB stood for, but all became lifelong friends and Catherine always considered them her “Sisters”. Catherine is survived by her children; Rebecca (the late Dale) Guthrie of St. Charles, Missouri, Terry (Debbie) Sturgell of Paris, Illinois, Betty Kay (Jim) Lammle of Olathe, Kansas, Cindy (Dean) Muchow of Paris, Illinois, and Mark (Judi) Sturgell of Decatur, Illinois, two sisters, Maxine Cochran and Joan Mattingly, both of Paris, Illinois, 13 grandchildren; Melissa Cary, Cody Muchow, Travis Sturgell, Kris Sturgell, Jeremy Muchow, Jason Guthrie, Gretchen Lombard, Andrew Guthrie, Lindsay Zalasky, Jamison Lammle, Tyler Sturgell, Dylan Sturgell, and Ryan Sturgell. She also has 15 great grandchildren that adored her and lovingly referred to her as “Nina”, and numerous nieces and nephews. Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill Sturgell, three brothers, and two grandchildren, James Guthrie and Ian Lammle. Visitation for Mrs. Sturgell will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 2, 2016 in Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 3, 2016 in Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Edgar Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Catherine’s honor may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Paris First United Methodist Church Women.