Catherine "Cathie" Merced

Catherine "Cathie" Merced, age 65, of Wall, S.D., died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

 

Catherine “Cathie” Dudley was born Jan. 13, 1952, the daughter of James and Lucile Dudley, longtime residents of Rapid City. 

 

Cathie passed away after a decades-long battle with lupus. Despite this struggle, she lived much of her life with a smile on her face and kindness to offer others, especially the children at her church, where she faithfully served as Sunday School teacher or AWANA leader. 

 

Cathie was an active member of Evangelical Free Bible Church in Wall for the past decade. She was also involved at First Wesleyan and Calvary Baptist churches in Rapid City in the 1980s. In addition to many years in South Dakota, she lived in West Virginia, Minneapolis, Virginia and Southern California.

 

Cathie is survived by her daughter, Rev. Pamm Fontana and son-in-law, David Fontana, of Fairfax, Va.; and three grandsons whose antics brought her much joy. Vaughn is six, Elden is four, and Thane is one and a half years old. She is also survived by a sister, Carol Barber, of Wall; nephews, Joshua of Brookings and Kevin of Ames, Iowa; and a brother, Don Paris and wife, Ilona Selke of Seattle, Wash., and Bali.

 

Memorial services were held Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Evangelical Free Bible Church in Wall.