Obituary

Catherine De Kine was born on July 11, 1926   to the late James and Essie Louise Jarrett (South) in Ripley, Tennessee. Catherine accepted Jesus Christ into her life at the age of 10 in Ripley. 

Catherine shared many stories of her life on her grandparents' farm, churning butter, walking to school and doing homework with her blind grandfather.  Later, as a teen, she moved to Michigan City, Indiana, and joined Mount Zion Baptist Church. While attending   Elston High School, she became a player on  the girls basketball team.

Catherine made great sacrifices for her six children by cleaning homes, and office buildings. Later, she was employed by the Kingsbury Ordnance Plant.

In 1974,  Catherine traveled to California, and joined Starlight Baptist Church.   At Starlight, Catherine was a faithful member, who enjoyed Sunday School and serving on the Mission and Usher Board.  Catherine was employed by Hughes Aircraft for 14 1/2 years as an inspector and assembly lineman.   

After retiring from Hughes on July 31, 1986, Catherine found joy in serving others with special needs and later assisted Gracie Swain in her Child Day Care Service. Catherine was an avid reader, who enjoyed traveling with her friends and family, cooking food from scratch, and watching all sports (basketball, football, and baseball). If you called during one of her games, her responses would be short, with lengthy pauses, which was your hint to leave her alone. If asked what her greatest achievements were, she would respond by saying her children.

Surrounded by her family, Catherine De Kine was called home on April 25, 2017 at her residence in Garden Grove, Ca. She was preceded in death by her sister Dearest Jarrett, grand-daughter Racheon Hurt, great-grand-son Brentell Hurt, and son, Rev. Emery Varrie.

She leaves to cherish her memories, brother James Jarrett, sister Donnie Jarrett, uncle Charles (Maggie) Jarrett, children: Janet (Vincent) Thomas, James Olds, Greg (Rita) Olds, Jerome Olds, Stephanie Mann, Bruce De Kine, Carl (Lisa) Varrie, Joe Spicer, Ramon Spicer, Julius Lee, and Star (Lorenzo) Calhoun. She is also loved by 16 grand-children, 23 great grand-children, 14 great-great grand-children and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

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