Obituary of Catherine Marie Nutter

Catherine “Kitty” Marie Nutter, 65, of Kingwood, WV passed away peacefully in the arms of her family on Saturday, September 10th, 2016 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital following an acute illness. Kitty was born in Youngstown, OH in 1951, the third child of Dr. Jay Hilary Kelley and Catherine Holway Kelley. She was best friend and second mother to her 5 sisters and 3 brothers. Kitty graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy in Philadelphia, PA and went on to attain both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from West Virginia University. It was at WVU that she met her husband and love of her life, Tom. They were married in 1974 and had two children, Hilary and Michael who were two of her proudest accomplishments. Kitty taught reading at Central Senior High School for ten years before going to Preston Academic Center where she taught humanities and coached the academic decathlon team. With the opening of Preston High School, she taught honors English and humanities until her retirement in 2008. Kitty was an intelligent, insightful, and articulate leader. She was passionate about her family and organized the Augustine B. Kelley Family reunion tradition. Kitty was a living miracle and an inspiration to all who met her. She was a survivor of breast, bone and brain cancer, which she attributed to her faith in God, the support of her husband Tom, family, and friends, and her team of doctors at UPMC including Dr. Elana Bloom, her friend and physician of 23 years. She fought not only to beat cancer physically, but also not to let cancer define who she was as a person. Kitty loved to read and was a member of several book clubs over the years. She looked forward to spending time with her family, dear friends, and cherished granddaughter Marcella. Catherine Marie is preceded in death by her father and mother, Dr. Jay Hilary Kelley and Catherine Holway Kelley of Greensburg, PA, her sister Christine Thom Kelley of Anchorage, AK, her brother Hilary Gerard Kelley of Phillipi, WV, and her nephew Joseph Kane Russell, of Columbus, MT. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Thomas M. Nutter, of Kingwood, WV, daughter Hilary and spouse Marc Findo, son Michael Nutter, and the apple of her eye granddaughter Marcella Findo, all from Morgantown, WV. She is also survived by and deeply missed by her brother Leonard Kelley and spouse Laura of Eagle River, AK, sister Mary Kelley of Nevis, West Indies, sister-in-law Cindy Kelley of Phillipi, WV, brother Patrick Kelley and partner, Stacy Herman of Los Angeles, CA, sister Joyce Kelley and spouse Tim Russell of Columbus, MT, sister Michele Kelley and spouse Pius Schenker of Billings, MT, sister Sheila Kelley and spouse Richard Schiff of Los Angeles, CA, and many loving nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. A memorial mass will be held at 11 am Saturday, September 17, 2016 at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 324 E Main Street, Kingwood, WV 26537 with Father Andrew Switzer as celebrant. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Bonnie’s Bus in memory of Catherine Nutter at P.O. Box 9300, Morgantown, WV 26506-9300. Hastings Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com