Catherine C Atkins

Catherine Craft Atkins, 87, of DeRidder, LA, passed from this life on Sunday, March 23, 2025. She was born January 21, 1938, in Merryville, LA to Arzel and Allie Kidder Craft.

After graduating high school, Catherine worked in the office at West Brothers in DeRidder, LA. She and a girlfriend eventually moved to Houston where they both worked at Dow Chemical Company for several years. She joined Aero Instrument (her husband’s company) in the late sixties and managed all administration until they retired. They joined the National Tooling & Machining Assoc (NTMA) also in the late 1960’s and became involved at the local and national levels. Catherine was active for many years on the NTMA Women’s Advisory Committee - one of the first women to do so. They loved to travel, especially with the trade assoc and spend time relaxing at Lake Livingston. When the grandchildren were very young, Granny & Grandaddy began renting a beach house in the Galveston area every summer where the family would come to spend time together and play. A favorite pastime of those trips were the evening hunts for sand crabs. Catherine (& Don) were also involved leading a class for many years at Willow Meadows Baptist Church in Houston. When she moved back to DeRidder after Don’s death, she eventually returned to her childhood church of Calvary Baptist Church in Merryville, LA. Catherine has spent the last 3+ years residing at Westwood Manor Nursing Home in DeRidder. Catherine loved working on Crossword Puzzles, watching old movies, and loved listening to Elvis Presley songs.

Those left to cherish her memory are her step sons, Donald Ray Atkins, Jr. and wife, Joanna of Porter, TX, John David Atkins and wife, Beverly of Indianapolis, IN, Roger Alan Atkins and wife, Juanita of Cleveland, OH; grandchildren, Jacob Atkins and wife, Katie, Ashley Siner and husband, Nathan, Amy Silvers and husband, Michael, Alexandra Bechel and husband, Chad, Angela Lancaster and husband, Cale, Alyssa Sparks and husband, James, Adrienne Atkins; great grandchildren, Sean Atkins, Zeke, Ella and Everett Siner, Jacob Reader, Madelyn and Birdie Lancaster, Jacey, Jessa, and Jovie Sparks; sister, Ernestine Craft Hillman of DeRidder, LA; nephews, Hoyt Hillman and wife, Phyllis, David Hillman; three great nieces, Shelby, Devon and Chloe and their families; first cousin and lifelong friend, John Dallas Kidder and a host of other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of almost forty years, Donald Ray Atkins; parents, Arzel and Allie Kidder Craft; great grandson, James “Jimmy” Alan Sparks; brother-in-law, Vernon Hillman.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, from 10:00 AM until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 AM At Myers Colonial Funeral Home in DeRidder, LA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Services are under the direction of Myers-Colonial Funeral Home in DeRidder, LA.