Allyn, Catherine 'Kate' Marie

Catherine “Kate” Marie Allyn, 90, of Edgewood, formerly of Greeley, died Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013, at the Regional Medical Center in Manchester. Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 27, at United Methodist Church in Greeley, with Pastor Paddy Druhl officiating. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Edgewood. Private Family Inurnment: Greenwood Cemetery, Masonville.

She was born Dec. 7, 1923, in Rowley, the daughter of Frank Lucius and Mary “Mae” Grace (Livingston) Donlea. As a young girl, Kate moved to Winthrop with her family. She graduated from Winthrop High School in 1941. Kate then went to business school in Cedar Rapids and moved to Independence after her schooling.

On Feb. 27, 1944, Kate was united in marriage to Louis Frank Allyn. After their marriage they moved to Pensacola, Fla. Kate returned to Winthrop while Lou was finishing his active duty in World War II. After being discharged from the Navy, Kate and Lou moved to Greeley and purchased and ran Clover Farm Grocery Store for 11 years. They then started Allyn Hardware in 1957, jointly operating it until 1980. The couple sold the hardware and moved to Fairfield in 1985, where Lou worked as a rural mail carrier, returning to Greeley in 1987. Lou died in March 1988. Kate moved to Lincolnwood in March 2009. She loved the friends she made living there.

Kate was a faithful member of the Greeley United Methodist Church since 1946. She was the church's organist for over 40 years, teaching Sunday school and directing the choir. She also was a member of the Order of Eastern Star. She was initiated on Feb. 14, 1942, at Winthrop Chapter #247 and transferred to Orient Chapter #15 of Manchester on Oct. 13, 1982. Kate had a lifelong love of music, participating in Manchester's chapter of the Sweet Adelines.

Survivors include three sons, Tom (Connie) Allyn of Manchester, Tim (Sue) Allyn of Polk City and Jeff Allyn of West Des Moines; one special daughter, Cathy (Rodney) Schabacker of Winthrop; seven grandchildren, Sam, Noah, Chloe, Liam, Todd, Heather and Casey; three great-grandchildren, Maya, Arabella and Andrew; two sisters-in-law, Linda Donlea of Independence and Mary Jo Donlea of Waddell, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews considered her their special aunt.

Kate was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lou; brothers and sisters, Jimmy Donlea in infancy, Glen in World War II, Don, Jack, Gordy and Dorothy Mumm; and a daughter-in-law, Mary Allyn.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Greeley United Methodist Church, Edgewood Convalescent Home or Lincolnwood Assisted Living.

Online condolences may be sent to .

Published in The Gazette Dec. 24, 2013.