Mary “Cathy” Stevens

Mary “Cathy” Kathleen (Whitmar) Stevens, age 83, of Wyoming (Grandville), Michigan passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.  Cathy was born on March 18, 1942 to Lloyd and Mary Whitmar. She was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. Cathy attended Nazareth Academy in Victoria, Texas as she had plans to become a nun. She transferred to Incarnate Word High School her senior year and graduated in 1959. She stated in her senior yearbook that she had an ambition “to be the perfect housewife”.  Her plans to become a nun changed when her father, who was a U.S. Air Force master sergeant, brought home for Christmas dinner a very handsome, rebellious, young airman he had taken under his wing, Dow Oliver Stevens.  Cathy married Dow, the love of her life, on June 20, 1959 at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and they started a family soon after.  When Dow left the air force, he moved his family back to Michigan and started working for Pontiac Motors (GM).

Cathy and Dow had a total of four children, the last one being born in Michigan.  Once all their children were in school, Cathy went back to school with the loving support of her husband. She graduated from Oakland Community College in Waterford, Michigan in 1974 with a degree in Nursing and began working on a Med/Surg unit at Pontiac General Hospital. With continued education, she obtained certification in Endoscopy nursing after which she started working in the Endoscopy Department.  After Dow retired from GM, they moved back to San Antonio, Texas to care for Cathy’s elderly grandmother, Stella. There, she continued to work as an Endoscopy nurse for a short period of time and then retired.

Cathy and Dow loved RV’ing with friends and family. They traveled to many places within the United States for a period of over 25 years.  One of their favorite things to do was set up camp in RV parks in Michigan and have their grandchildren come stay with them to swim in the pool, play around the park, and experience the RV life.

Cathy also loved to cook and bake. Dow loved so many of the dishes and desserts she would make, especially her chocolate pie which he could never get enough of. She made every holiday and birthday special with the meals she would prepare and the gifts she would buy.  She was a consummate host, often inviting Dow’s siblings and their families over for the holidays. Her recipes are cherished and will continue to be passed down through the generations. 

Cathy also enjoyed keeping her home immaculate, gardening, working in her yard, staying active, walking, yearly summer and occasional holiday trips to Texas to visit her family and friends, trips up north to Atlanta to visit her husband’s family, going to Mackinaw Island, and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren who were a source of great joy for her.  She not only achieved her goal of being a perfect housewife; she was also the best mom, grandma, and  great grandma.  

Throughout their lives Cathy and Dow lived in the states of Michigan, Texas, and Tennessee.  In every neighborhood they lived, including the one they lived in for a short period of time after moving back to Michigan, they were so blessed to have the absolute best neighbors who were good, kind, and caring people.  Cathy made many friends throughout her life and she stayed in touch with them by faithfully writing personal messages in the Christmas cards she sent out every year.  Cathy and Dow’s family will forever be grateful for these relationships as they brought great joy and happiness to their parents’ lives.

Cathy had an incomparable and unwavering love for Dow and her children,  grandchildren, and great grandchildren, as well as for her sister, Beth Ann.  She would do anything for the people she loved and always placed their needs before her own.  She was a devout Catholic, passing her faith on to her children.  She had a beautiful soul which radiated love, warmth, kindness, compassion, thoughtfulness, and empathy.  Her presence will be dearly missed.

Cathy was preceded in death by her parents and great grandson, Joseph Dow Hayes.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Dawn (Bryan) Zudel, Sherrie (Timm) Kobayashi, Michael Stevens, and Mark (Andrea) Stevens; grandchildren, Ryan Stevens, Chelsea Newsbaum, Lauren (Joseph) Hayes, Travis Stevens, Cody Newsbaum, Mitchell Kobayashi, and Nathan (Heather) Kobayashi; step-grandchildren, Caylah (Daniel) Bowden, Andrew (Catie) Zudel, and Angel (Wesley) Sanders;  great grandchildren, Hunter Kobayashi, twins Stella and Scarlett Hayes, and Hudson Kobayashi; sister, Beth Ann Seelig; and nephew, Dwayne Seelig.

A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, March 24, at 11 am at St. Pius Catholic Church, 3937 Wilson Ave SW, Grandville, Michigan for both Cathy and Dow as they passed away within four days of each other. Father Douglas Braun will be officiating. Interment will take place at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio TX in the month of June. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to St. Pius X Catholic Church or the Susan G Koman Foundation.