Catherine “Cathy” McClure Muehlberger
Sept. 17, 1942 Jan. 24, 2026
Cathy’s faith in Christ has been the fundamental guide to her entire life. She thanked God every day for His nurturing presence in family, friends, and Church. She tried to invite the Holy Spirit to be a part of every decision, every laugh, every tear, and every major event in her life. She has always considered death a special time of Christ’s welcoming a soul back to Him, a time of “ecstatic joy.”
Cathy was born in Kansas City, MO in 1942, as the oldest of 7 children of Edward and Lorreta Ann McClure. She was the first grandchild for both sets of her grandparents. She grew up in KC, was baptized at Guardian Angels Church, attended Visitation Catholic grade school, and loved spending time with her maternal grandparents, Otto and Loretta Schmid, and their 7 daughters.
After his return from post war Japan, Cathy’s dad’s job took the family to Chillicothe, MO where Cathy attended the small Catholic School at St. Columban and the Catholic High School at St. Joseph’s Academy. After high school in Chillicothe, Cathy was more than ready to spread her wings so, at their invitation, she moved in with her grandparents, Otto and Loretta Schmid, and attended Avila College in Kansas City, majoring in Art and Early Childhood Development. While visiting with 2nd cousin, Steve Riederer, on Thanksgiving in 1961, a life altering encounter occurred. Cathy has written in her own words: Right about that time, the doorbell rang. Steve’s friends from college had arrived. Steve’s two friends were Jim Gracey and Jerry Muehlberger. Jerry’s dark hair was sprinkled with snow, his cheeks were rosy, and he had a bright smile - definitely something very special about him! Steve’s younger sister was born with Down’s Syndrome, and, when she saw Jim and Jerry, she ran up to them and hugged them vigorously. They were so good with her, something I’d never seen in boys that age.
As was the custom with the Riederer family, after dinner, the whole family and guests gathered in the living room to say the Rosary. After that, we were off to the movies, not realizing what had just begun!
(Jerry’s Note: Unbeknownst to Cathy, he and friend Jim had heard Steve talking about a long-lost college-aged female 2nd cousin he was going to meet, so they made it a point to show up that night to check her out. He remembers to this day Cathy walking down the Riederer stairs, blue eyes and a smile to light up the whole house. They all went out together that night and saw “El Cid,” and Destiny’s Children were off to what was to be a lifelong adventure).
To earn money for college, Cathy worked summers as a lifeguard at Little Flower Camp in Lee’s Summit, and at the city pool in Swope Park. While continuing her studies part time, she worked at Adler’s Department Store as a window display designer, followed by a full-time job with the local Cerebral Palsy Center. It was a teaching position, working with the older residents at the Center, 14 to 27 years old.
To allow more time to accumulate college credits, Cathy landed a job teaching kindergarten at Guardian Angels Catholic School. She had taught CCD classes there 2 years prior while living with her grandparents, so it was like a “home parish” for her.
Cathy and Jerry’s friendship continued to grow over the years, and, on April 11, 1966, they married in Guardian Angels Church. Jerry was teaching high school in Kansas City at the time, but the Vietnam War led him to enlist in the Air Force. Over the next 60 years, Cathy and Jerry would bring 3 new lives into the world, adopt a baby in the Philippines, move 26 times, travel to most of the 50 states, and live several years in each of the Philippines, Germany, England, Japan, and Egypt. Cathy handled each of some 20 military moves in her uniquely positive way, a way that led the whole family to look with excitement toward what was to come rather than back at what was lost. Her smile, artistic skills, and happy engagement of her family made each new dwelling a continuing home. In addition to her full-time callings as “wife” and “mother,” Cathy would have jobs running a home-based childcare, teaching kindergarten, and working as a lifeguard, a water aerobics instructor, and a professional art illustrator. She loved volunteering at her children’s schools as well as at her church in several ministries. She was a Eucharistic Minster both at Church and at long-term care facilities, and twice an ACTS team member. She helped manage monthly food drives and served as a member of the parish Council. But her greatest love was as a certified educator in the Good Shepherd program, a Montessori-based Faith Formation program for children.
Cathy had a unique ability to recognize beauty and strength in others and to compliment them always. Jerry was amazed at how she would remember more about a person after one short meeting than he could after spending hours with them! And he and their children have been the greatest benefactors of that unique spirit. Cathy’s love for God first, followed closely by family and friends was evident to most everyone she met.
We’ll miss her bright smile and sparkling blue eyes, but she lives on in the gentle strength, kindness, and joy she brought to her family, and to all she met. And we look forward to the day we’ll be with her once more.
Cathy was preceded in death by her daughter Maria, parents, Edward and Loretta McClure, and sister, Loretta. She is survived by husband, Jerry; son, Patrick and wife Trinity; daughter, Heather and husband Monty Joe Massie; son, Anthony and wife Dayna; 7 grandchildren: Kalen, Sierra, Patrick, Matthew, Charles, Felix, and Maia; 2 great grandchildren, Serenity and Anahi; and 5 siblings, Edward, Patrick, Margaret, John, and Mike.
Visitation at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Boerne will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday Feb, 27, followed by a Rosary service at 12:30 p.m. and Mass at 1 p.m. There will be a luncheon reception in the parish Family Life Center Cana Ballroom following Mass. The family wishes to invite all friends to attend these events in celebration of Cathy’s life.
The Mass of Remembrance will be live-streamed and recorded on St. Peter the Apostle’s website: https://www.youtube.com/c/stpetersboerne (See QR code and Links below.)
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Peter the Apostle Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program at: https://giving.parishsoft.com/ App/Form/9acfc873-bca3-4d4b-836e-4a34f9a8e741 (QR code 1 below) or to St Peter the Apostle Catholic School at: https://giving.parishsoft.com/ App/Form/49329d85-6fc0-4f5dbf89- 36b5ed375569 (QR code 2 below) Services entrusted to Ebensberger Fisher Funeral Home. To leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.ebensberger- fisher.com.
— PAID OBITUARY —
Comment
Comments