Our beloved Aunt, mother, wife, cousin and friend Kathleen (Mastenbrook) Dews passed away before dawn on Friday, June 23. She was the youngest daughter of Helen and Harold Mastenbrook and grew up along the beautiful Michigan lakeshore. In high school, she played the clarinet and marched in the Grand Haven Buccaneer marching band but "never at the same time!" she would laughingly say. She spent one memorable summer on Mackinac Island, scooping ice cream for tourists, and she attended Ferris Institute in Big Rapids, MI, seeking an associate degree in retail. After graduation, she packed up her green and white Pontiac and headed to Southern Florida, newly hired as a buyer for Burdines Department store. Kathy met Bill, her husband of 52 years in Fort Lauderdale and because he worked for Eastern Airlines, they enjoyed a jet-setting lifestyle of travel early in their marriage. Their son, William James, "BJ" came along in 1980 and after a decade of rooting on the Miami Dolphins from Pembroke Pines, the Dews family moved North and put down roots in Lake City.

Always a people person, Kathy utilized her friendly and outgoing personality to greet guests at the front desk of the original Holiday Inn. She persevered after a fight with breast cancer and enjoyed 32 years of country living as well as many years of sunsets at their cabin on Ocean Pond. She had a zest for life and an eternal optimism that helped her to be a steadfast caretaker, tending to her big sister through her brain cancer, her elderly mother until her death at 98, and tirelessly cared for her husband as he descended into dementia these last 5 years. Then, after years of caring for others, Kathy fought a courageous but brief battle with ovarian cancer and has joined her beloved Bill, son BJ, mother, father, and big sister in eternal rest.

She is survived by her sister Betty (husband Joe) D'Anza of Joliet, Ill, and brother-in-law, Patrick Schaefer of Chesterfield, Missouri, and a sister in law, Debbie Wood of Laguna Niguel, CA. Her laughter and birthday calls will be missed by her nephews Andy D'Anza, of Joliet, Ill, Spencer Wood and niece Casey Wood, both of Laguna Niguel, CA, Caroline George of Dayton, Ohio, and Kelly Kerr of St. Louis, Missouri. Kathy has five grand nieces and nephews who will fondly remember her kindness and generosity of spirit as well as her 2 faithful canines Ernest and Chance, who will miss her late night snuggles.

A celebration of Kathy's life will be held on Thursday, June 29, at Gateway Forest Lawn. Visitation begins at 10 AM, service at 11 AM with internment immediately following. Her patriotism and love of country can be honored by making a donation in Kathy's name to the Lake City American Legion 2602 SW Main Blvd Lake City 32025