Catharin Reddick Norman

February 27, 1918 - April 7, 2017

Catharin Reddick Norman, beloved great-grandmother, kitchen committee pioneer, elections representative, educator, coach, community volunteer, and neighbor, passed after celebrating her last birthday with family and friends, on a pleasant Friday morning, April 7, 2017.  Thank you all for your 99 cards, kind words, and special memories shared!   Her father, George Franklin Reddick, was a master machinist with Brooks Scanlon Lumber in Carbur, then with Buckeye through retirement.  Her mother, Nettie Prince Reddick, raised 5 industrious citizens, and was very active in the church and community.  Catharin was born in Perry in 1918, and returned after the Carbur Camp closed in 1928.   "Shack" graduated from TCHS in 1935, and from Georgia State College for Women in 1939 with a B.S. in Health, Physical Education & Sciences.   She returned to TCHS in 1939 to teach general science, chemistry, biology, physiology and coach basketball and cheer-leading.  For over 30 years, she cultivated the girls'' physical education program and helped drive the bus for team players and brought home the 1952 NFC championship, while teaching swimming as part of the County''s summer recreation program.  In 1972, she was named District Teacher of the Year.  In 1999, she was appointed to the Educators Hall of Fame.   After she retired from teaching in 1976, Catharin welcomed a second career with the Supervisor of Elections Office.  Little did she know that over the next 25 years she would interface with computers, hanging chads, and election monitors, with whom she refused to share homemade pimento cheese.   She retired for the 2nd time at the age of 88.  In the background, she chaired the Church Kitchen, Renovation and Building Committees, managed the annual Turkey Supper (1945-2007), Holy Week Breakfasts, Wednesday Fellowship Suppers, and Historic Registries.  She is proud to have worked with the Girl Scouts, Red Cross, Library, Tuberculosis Association, Hospital Auxiliary, Guild Circle, and so many more.   Catharin learned to ski in her 60''s, overcame many breaks and falls being active, and charitable, happily.   In 1996, she threw the first pitch to christen Catharin Reddick Norman Park, just down the street ("Catharin Norman Lane") from her lifelong home which she built with husband, Woodruff Clyde Norman (d. 1972).  In 2013, she was recognized as Buckeye''s FCU Community Minded Member of the Year.   Catharin is survived by her older sister (Ruth Henry), youngest brother (Harold Reddick), son (W.C. Norman, Jr. and wife Susan Shaver Norman), 3 grandchildren (Missy, Mandy, and Bob), and 3 great-grandchildren (West, Liam, and Presley).   We welcome you to celebrate her life at a service in her honor at the First United Methodist Church in Perry on Saturday, April 15 at 11am.  The family will receive friends on Friday, April 14 from 4 to 6pm at Beggs Funeral Home Perry Chapel.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the First United Methodist Church Kitchen Committee at PO Box 487, Perry, Florida 32348.  All arrangements are under the care of TJ Beggs Jr. & Sons Funeral Homes.