Catherine Paxton Obituary

Catherine "Cathy" Hope Paxton, 70, of Ashland, passed away peacefully on the morning of Thursday, January 2, 2025, surrounded by her devoted husband and children. She courageously battled bile duct cancer with strength and grace until the end.

Born on August 19, 1954, in Willard to the late Maxine M. (Ramey) and John J. "Newton" Johnson, Jr., she was the youngest of six siblings. A 1972 graduate of Plymouth High School, she embraced a life centered on family. Cathy was fortunate to stay home with her children, Lesley and Andy, during their early years before returning to work. She was employed at Shelby Insurance Company until its closure in 2000 and later joined Sprint in Mansfield, where she remained until her retirement in 2016. Cathy treasured her time spent working which allowed her to build many cherished and lifelong friendships.

Cathy's warm smile and genuine love for helping others left an unforgettable mark on everyone she met, making people feel valued and appreciated. She will be remembered for her caring, hardworking, fun-loving, and outgoing nature. Cathy had a deep passion for travel and was fortunate to explore 39 of the 50 states before her health prevented her from visiting the remaining 11. She also found great joy in gardening, bird watching, history, and solving puzzles. Known for her delicious cookies, she loved cooking for family and friends, especially creating special memories by baking with her grandchildren. Above all, Cathy treasured time with her loved ones, from cheering on Lesley and Andy in their sporting events and found even greater joy in supporting her grandchildren's activities later in her life.

Cathy is survived by her devoted husband of 48 years, Larry Dean Paxton, whom she married on June 19, 1976. Larry was a loving husband and an exceptional caregiver, especially during her final months. She is also survived by their children, Lesley (Jeff) Klosterman of Harrodsburg, KY, and Andy (Halsy) Paxton of Dublin. She was lovingly referred to as Nini by her grandchildren Reece and Grant Klosterman and Nora, Delia, and Declan Paxton. She is also survived by her siblings, Ronald (Muriel) Johnson, Nancy Dyer, Brenda Coovert, and Jane (Ray) Bond along with numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Curtis Roth, and her brother-in-law, Dave Coovert. She was blessed with her new family of friends from the Lighthouse Small Group at Grace Church and was touched by all of those who reached out to her during her illness.

Family and friends are welcome on January 9, 2025 from 5-7pm at the Penwell Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, Ohio. Funeral service will be held on Friday January 10, 2025 at 10 am at Grace Church, 1144 West Main Street, Ashland, Ohio, where Cathy and Larry are members. Pastor Dan Allan will officiate the services. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Shiloh. Memorial contributions may be made to The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation or Grace Church.

Condolences may be left on Cathy's obituary on the funeral home's website (PenwellFuneralHome.com) or their Facebook page (Facebook.com/PenwellFuneralHome).