KATHARINE MEEKER, A Fitting Memorial

​KATHARINE MEEKER
A Fitting Memorial
 
         I first met Kathy and her husband, Dr. Irv Meeker years ago when they appeared at the box office of Pat and my live theatre on Hilton Head. We immediately acknowledged our Maine connection. For years, Kathy and Irv were great supporters of our theatre. We also became friends at the Unitarian Church there. Kathy and Irv visited us once in our South Bristol, Maine home when they came to watch the launching of the boats built at the local grammar school in conjunction with a program at the Maine Maritime Museum—Kathy was a board member of that museum and many other fine Maine organizations.
         Once in awhile, Irv would call me and ask if I could drive Kathy to our church as he had a golf match. I was pleased to do so and got to know Kathy even more. She teased me about going to Bowdoin instead of Middlebury and told me all about her family, which she was so proud of, and listened carefully as I bragged about Pat and my family.
 
         Yesterday, my daughter Jan and I attended the memorial service for Katharine Pell Meeker at the Falmouth, Maine country club with Dr. and Mrs. Buell Miller. Before Kathy’s service, we had lunch with Buell and his wife, Ann Foskett Miller. Ann appeared in a number of shows at our theatre and has been a long time friend of ours. Ann and Buell were married earlier this year. Dr. Miller was an associate doctor with Kathy’s husband, Dr. Irving Meeker, and he told us more about this remarkable couple. He travelled with the Meekers, putting on medical conferences and knew them well.
 
         Kathy would have been so pleased with her service; especially the performance of her grandchildren. They did her proud as they extolled her virtues and presented a picture of the woman I was proud to have known.
 
         As I watched this service, I couldn’t help wondering what kind of a service our children might have when Pat and I pass over the bar. Someone once asked me, “Hank, what would you like to be remembered for?”
         I pondered this question as I listened to Kathy’s family extol her virtues; telling good stories of Kathy’s interesting life. There was great love in the room yesterday for Katharine Pell Meeker— a fitting tribute to a very special lady.
         I remember Kathy as a kind, generous, and brilliant woman.