"Mrs. Barnum was one of the first women that I met at Quincy Art Barn when I moved to town. What a gracious lady. She will be missed. "
Catherine 'Cay' Castle Horn Barnum, age 100, of Quincy, died on Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 11:30 am in her home.
Cay was born April 10, 1920 in Quincy, Illinois, the daughter of Frederick Boyd and Edith Govert Castle.
On December 12, 1942, she married Frank Walton Horn in Quincy. He preceded her in death on May 18, 1975. She married Charles Edwin Barnum on February 11, 1978 in Jacksonville, Illinois. He preceded her in death on September 3, 1998.
Mrs. Barnum attended Madison School for all nine years of her elementary education. She graduated from Quincy Senior High School in 1937. Cay received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1941. While attending U of I, she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and became involved with campus politics. After their marriage in 1942, Cay and Frank lived briefly in Washington, D.C. When Frank went to sea with the U.S. Navy during World War II, Cay returned to Quincy and actively worked with various projects associated with the war effort.
She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church for many years. She later became a member of St. John's Anglican Cathedral where she served on the building committee, and was President of the Anglican Church Women.
Cay was a member of Friends in Council and the Quincy Country Club. She was a former board member of the Quincy Service League, the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County, the Quincy Art Club, Cheerful Home and the Quincy YWCA. She was a member of the "Junior Nit-Wits Bridge Club." In 2008, Cay received the Friend of the National Federation of the Blind award for more than 60 years of dedicated service.
Cay always served on her high school class reunion committees. In recent years, she mentored children at Madison, Washington and Adams Schools. As a girl, Cay spent her summers at girls camps. She loved to travel. She always loved the great outdoors and took immense pleasure in raising beautiful roses, zinnias and pussy willows.
She lived in LaGrange, Missouri at Windy Hill before returning to Quincy.
She is survived by her daughter, Catherine 'Cathy' Randall and her husband Robert, of Jacksonville, IL; and numerous cousins.
In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents.
A private prayer service will be held at St. John's Anglican Cathedral followed by burial in Woodland Cemetery, Quincy, Illinois. A public Requiem Mass will be planned at a later date.
Memorials: National Federation of the Blind of Illinois (NFBI) or St. John's Anglican Cathedral (3728 Payson Road). Memorial donations may be made online at https://memorials.hansenspear.com/
www.hansenspear.com
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.
"Mrs. Barnum was one of the first women that I met at Quincy Art Barn when I moved to town. What a gracious lady. She will be missed. "
"Cathy and Bob, I only just learned of your mother's passing, and wanted to send my deepest sympathies for your loss. So many memories come flooding back of times our families shared not only in Quincy but Colorado and Windy Hill. I know that I don't have to elaborate on the special bond that was shared by both your mother and mine. How wonderful that you had so many years to share! Cay was always such a class act and so kind to me and my family over the years. I will always cherish her memory. Condolences and Kindest Regards, Al Wooleyhan, Jr., Savannah, GA "
"Jim and Melba Funk send our love and sympathy and pray for your comfort, Cathy and Bob. We also offer a prayer of Thanksgiving for the gracious person who your mother was. "
""Miss Cay" was the sweetest woman...we will miss her dearly...she had become part of our family...so sorry for your loss, Cathy."