Catherine "Fluffy" Bear September 14, 1947 ~ September 11, 2021 (age 73) Wife of PETE BEAR (BHS '65) for 52 years
Tom Estes
Catherine Ann Bear, age 73, passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, September11, 2021 in Alice, TX. She was born on September 14, 1947 in Alice, TX to Herbert Richter and Virginia Byrne Richter.
Catherine, known as “Fluffy” by many, met the love of her life, Pete, at Texas A&I University in Kingsville, TX and later married him on July 28, 1969. They lived and raised their beautiful family in Alice, TX. Catherine was known to have had a strong Catholic faith. She was genuinely beautiful inside and out. Headstrong, dynamic, and fierce, when Catherine tackled any task, it was with an all or nothing attitude. There was no cutting corners or taking shortcuts with her.
Catherine was a caretaker, never refusing anyone in need. She loved to dote on her family and especially her greatest joys, her grandchildren. Catherine was thoughtful and generous. She enjoyed baking, especially during Christmas and was sure to share her bake goods with everyone, friends, family, and co-workers alike. She loved nature and travel. She enjoyed going to estate sales and hitting up garage sales with her best friend Linda. Catherine loved good food and sure wasn’t shy about telling you when it wasn’t very good. Catherine was loved by everyone and loved everyone she worked with. She loved to sing, keep up with her pet sanctuary, and was ALWAYS HAPPY.
On Catherine’s 73rd birthday Linda, her daughter, Tiffany, and her daughter, Kim, hosted an extravagant, surprise birthday party in honor of Catherine, Laura Wright Hancock, and Kara Wright’s birthdays; it was a weekend to remember. A chef was hired to prepare a delicious meal, games were played, reminisced about the good ole days, enjoyed nature, danced, and laughed until their bellies ached. It was a memorable occasion that will be remembered for years to come. Plans were being made for the next big birthday bash but sadly with one less soul on the guest list.
Catherine was preceded in death by her parents and brother, John Richter.
She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Pete Bear of Alice, TX, children, Kimberly (Ronald) Theis of Spring, TX and Christopher (Kara) Bear of Pinehurst, TX; grandchildren, Jonas Theis, Gareth Theis, Rylan Bear, and Ava Bear; Sisters, Dorothy (Ken) Postert Aransas Pass, TX and Mary Helen (Art) Burnette of Seguin, TX; sisters-in-law, Sandra Langham of Denver, CO and Kay Richter of Carlinville, IL., best friend for 48 years, Linda Wright of Alice, TX
Her favorite quote was “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, or Corpus Christi Humane Society.