Catherine "Kay" Schweers

Catherine “Kay” Schweers, 82, died Wednesday February 3, 2021 at McLeod Regional Medical Center from a non-Covid related illness. She transitioned peacefully surrounded by her loving children. Due to Covid, no services are planned. “Momma Kay” as she was affectionately known to many, made her arrival into the world on December 19, 1938 in Boston, Massachusetts and was raised in Virginia and Atlanta, Ga. She was the daughter of Norman Arey Fowler and Elizabeth Mary Woods.She graduated from Decatur High School in 1956. She was married to Owen O’Connor Schweers, Jr. 1956-1980. She is survived by four children: Katherine Schweers Strauss (Larry Strauss), Patricia A. Schweers, Matthew Norman Schweers (Maria Edna Grace Baldos Schweers), and Sheila Schweers Parnell (Earl W. Parnell) and a host of grands, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Momma Kay was preceded in death by three of her children; Owen O’Connor Schweers III (1959-2001), Mary Margaret ‘Peggy’ Schweers (Torrence Milton Jones, Jr.) (1962- 1992), and Martha Eileen Schweers (1966- 2002). Kay lived a full life and blazed a glorious trail for us to follow, just by being herself. She was a well-known fixture in the community. She was devoted to being a poll worker in elections. Fair access to health care was something near and dear to Kay’s heart and as such, she was one of the people responsible for the success of Hope Health as one of the founding members. She used her education in journalism as she worked with local papers and magazines. In Wilkesboro, NC she was a writer for the Journal Patriot and she did the same for the Morning News in Florence. Other positions as a writer peppered her career at the Morning News, Pee Dee Woman Magazine and as a Society and Restaurant Critic. In 1990, she opened her own desktop publishing business, Fit to Print and it successfully operated for 20 years until she retired in 2010. Although she retired from her business, she did not sit back and do nothing. She kept busy and active with her St. Ann’s Catholic Church family and the Democratic Party. She was a long-time supporter of and worked with the Florence Little Theater. Most recently she added Citizen Columnist to her many writing roles as she gave readers the pleasure of her words. She received awards for various achievements. As a business owner she not only produced good quality work, but she was not selfish with her talent and skills. She would gladly answer questions about her craft. Always full of bits and pieces of information and a wealth of knowledge on most any topic, Kay was a pleasure to talk with and visit. She always made you feel at home because she was so warm and loving, even when she was being blunt as she sometimes was, when it was warranted. She loved life and was a long-time member of the Red Hat Society. She wanted simply to be remembered this way: I was blessed by children and family. I was blessed by friends. The family asks that any gifts please be given to one of the following charities in her honor: St. Ann Catholic Parish (Florence) or Hope Health (Florence).