Obit - Obituary for Catherine Willson
In Loving Memory of Catherine Conaway Willson
February 27, 1946 – January 16-2025
Our Viking has set sail.
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, Catherine “Cathy” Willson of Live Oak, FL, passed away peacefully.
Cathy was born on February 27, 1946, daughter of Charles and Catherine (Mackey) Rittler in Baltimore, MD. She spent her youth outside exploring the eastern Maryland hillside on horseback and upon graduating from Eastern High School in 1964, Cathy took off running to pursue her love of horses launching her lifelong career of horse breeding, training, and boarding of which she never retired.
Cathy married Gordon Andrew Conaway in 1977 and had one son, Augustus “Gus” Conaway. Later, she married Edwin Gilpin Willson, Sr. in 1988 and was widowed in 1990. Her last partner, George Tiligman Ash, passed in 2017.
For all who knew Cathy, she was a woman of strength, compassion, and laughter. Her German ancestry built her as strong and brave as an ox. Her massive heart could never turn away a stray or hurting animal or friend. Her laughter was loud, long, and lovely – many times directed at herself! She opened both her home and heart to friends providing a community gather space for all to eat, drink and tell stories whether they were truths or lies. Her (literal) soup pot of turkey broth and kitchen sink leftovers warmed our bellies and our souls.
Some of Cathy’s most enjoyable moments in life were spent with her grandchildren at her Magnolia Farm, surfside soaking in the salty air and bright sunshine of the clear blue waters of the Gulf and in the saddle as Master of the Howard County, MD Iron Bridge Hounds Hunt Club. She achieved the highest level of competition recognition within the United States Dressage Association earning her Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals.
Her talents were many and will live longer than the woman herself. While she had little formal instruction, this mighty outdoors woman had a softer side. She had a beautiful talent for painting and drawing on any material available: China, glass, wood, metal, canvas, and paper. She was a member of the China Painting Artists of Maryland and the Live Oak (FL) Artist Guild and the Color Pencil Society of America. Additionally, she was the owner/operator of the Whistle Stop Coffee Shop & Deli for multiple years.
The last six months of Cathy’s life where a struggle as dementia eroded her creative mind and stout body. Friends and family came regularly to visit and remind her of the stories and events that created such a special and unique life for her that she no longer could conjure up on her own. To all of you, we thank you for loving Cathy so deeply. As said by the Wizard in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, “And remember, my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.”
Cathy is survived by her son, Gus Conaway, his wife, Heather Conaway, her two grandchildren, Colson Michael and Graden Andrew Conaway, her niece, Rosemary Suzanne Rittler and nephew, Charles Bradley Rittler, Jr. She is predeceased by her brother, Charles Bradley Rittler, Sr
A Celebration of Life will take place at Magnolia Farm in Live Oak, FL on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 1:00 pm during which her ashes will be spread at the farm she built and so dearly loved.