Obituary of Katie Castillo Bejarano

Katie C. Bejarano May 1, 1927 - August 12, 2012 Katie C. Bejarano passed away on August 12, 2012 in Tucson, AZ, where she had chosen to live and raise a family with her beloved husband Heriberto Bejarano. She is preceded in death by her husband (Heriberto/Eddie); mother, Concepcion Murrieta Castillo; sisters, Jane Carrillo and Rebecca Diaz. A Memorial Service will be held at Bring's Memorial Chapel, 236 S. Scott Ave., Friday, August 17, 2012 at 3:00 PM. She is survived by her remaining brother Benjamin Castillo, children: Rafael H. Bejarano, David A. Bejarano, George C. Bejarano, Alicia Kay Bejarano (Cecelia Canez) and many nieces, nephews, cousins and grandchildren: Marlo Jennings, Jennifer Bejarano, Eric David Bejarano, John Bejarano, Robert V. Bejarano and Estevan G. Bejarano. After the death of her husband, Katie came to live with Alicia Kay. She was taken care of with gentle love by Alicia Kay, (her partner) Cecelia Canez and Robert Canez. Their effort and care allowed our mother to live an extra ten years. Maria Clara Catalina Margarita Castillo Bejarano was born May 1, 1927, in a little town called Lochiel, AZ, located near Patagonia, AZ, and very close to the USA/Mexico border. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Francisco Grijalva Castillo. Her dad was a bronco-buster and her mom was a dutiful wife and mother. In Nogales, AZ where she was raised, my mother endured many hardships during the Great Depression which gave her resilience and molded her fine character. She was a can-do person in that all things were possible through hard work, determination and the will of God. My mom was beloved by all of her nieces and nephews: Richard, Carlos, Margie, Patrick, Olivia (Bebe), etc...When she got married to my dad all of my dad's nieces and nephews thought and still do that she was the Cat's Meow (cool cat person). She was full of life. She had great stories of her childhood that she shared with us. Believe me we know all her stories by heart. During the summer she would entertain the neighborhood kids with her ghost stories about the Nogales cemetery and the haunted house that she grew up in. She would scare the heck out of the neighbors (the Bon family) and us. My mom loved to read the Reader's digest. She said, "You can learn a hell of a lot of education in the magazine." Our parents have funny sayings. We learned the love of reading from my mom. She could read five books weekly and give you a brief synopsis of each book. Although she never graduated from high school she was a great advocate of education. She made sure we all graduated from high school and greatly encouraged us to pursue higher education. Please let me include a passionate plea to St. Peter at the Pearly Gates and God (our Father) that Katie is definitely heaven material. If anything she can regale heaven with her funny stories.