Catherine T. Baillie

Catherine T. Baillie, exactly 96 ½ years old, of Loup City, went home to her Lord, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, at the Rose Lane Home in Loup City. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Loup City. The Rev. Douglas DeNeui will officiate. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is assisting the family. Catherine Tulula was born on April 25, 1922, in the Haskell Creek area north of Ord, the daughter of Wesley and Lola Marjorie (McClatchey) Miska. She grew up with her three brothers in Valley County and went to Haskell Creek School through the 9th grade. She graduated from Arcadia High School in 1939. While still a teen she became a teacher after receiving normal training in high school. She taught at the one room schoolhouse near the family farm in Valley County and was also a substitute teacher in Sherman County. On May 24, 1940, Catherine was joined in marriage to Earle Courtney Baillie at the Presbyterian Manse in Loup City, after meeting him at a Valentine's Church Dance. They lived in rural Loup City, where they raised a family of six children, over a LOT of years!! Her children were in the Loup City school system for 39 continuous years. She assisted Earle in raising registered Hereford cattle. They received the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award from the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben for the farm being in the Baillie family for 100 years. She was a beautiful mother and a quiet matriarch who gave wonderful advice only when solicited. Catherine worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce as an enumerator with the Census Bureau from the 1960 census through the 1980 census. She worked from 1965 to 1985 as an interviewer doing various surveys and taking statistics. She was a member of the Loup City Presbyterian Church, active with the Presbyterian Women, and taught Sunday School over many years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, American Legion and VFW auxiliaries, and Historical Society. She was also a 4-H leader, member of the Helpers Club and a member of the Happy Circle Extension Club for more than 60 years. Catherine enjoyed playing bridge in various clubs and playing cards, reading to and rocking her children and grandchildren, and loved doing crossword puzzles and trivia. Other joys were going to church, coffee time, sewing, spending time with her grown children, grandchildren and other family. She loved her flowers and garden, but not so much the weeds and was a master bread baker. She loved the top ½ of a cup of coffee and the bottom ½ of a banana. Having grown up in the 30's, she taught her children to take care of things to make them last and to not be wasteful. She is survived by four sons, Dr. E. Eugene Baillie of Anderson, S.C., Alexander A. Baillie (Patrice Feller) of Loup City, Carl C. Baillie (Barbara) of Kula, Hawaii, and Jonathan J. Baillie (Debby) of Holstein, Iowa; two daughters, Mary M. Byington of Glebe NSW, Australia, and Clara C. Stobbe (Jeffry) of Ashton; 11 grandchildren, 4 foster grandchildren, 13 great- grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson; and a brother, Richard Miska (Junetta) of Holdrege. Catherine was joined in heaven with her parents, Wesley and Lola; her husband Earle who died on Sept. 27, 1998; daughter-in-law, Virginia Baillie; son-in-law, John Byington; brothers, Elwood and Gerald Miska; and her long-time best friend of 70+ years, Margaret Erdmann, who died on Oct. 19, 2018. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.