July 10, 1932 - Aug. 26, 2008

Beloved mother, grandmother and daughter of Dr. Adrian J. Durant and Jean Isabel Heckert, Katharine Durant Cleaveland, 76, passed away Wednesday after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Katie earned a master's degree in early childhood development at the University of Missouri, Columbia, where she was a member of Delta Gamma Society. She taught kindergarten for over 30 years, with the majority of her tenure at Central Elementary School in Albany. She retired in 1993.

Katie loved her grandchildren and family dearly. She had a lifelong passion for books, and was a voracious reader. Katie also loved dogs and enjoyed antiques.

She is survived by her daughters, Michelle McGregor of Sammamish, Wash., and Kathy Gustin of Bloomington, Ill; grandchildren Madeline Jean McGregor, Emma Ann McGregor and Johnathan Ryan Gustin; brother-in-law Robert C. Smith of Columbia, Mo.; sister-in-law Jacqueline Durant of Champaign, Ill.; and 13 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sisters, Jean Durant Smith and Florence Durant Roberts; and brother Adrian J. Durant Jr.

There will be a private family memorial. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions be made to Alzheimer's Association or the American Cancer Society.