Obituary of Catherine Ellen Jane McKee Speakman

"Caye" was born on August 27, 1917 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her parents were John Alexander and Martha Frances Shannon McKee, both of whom were Irish immigrants. Her beloved older brother Robert "Bob" James McKee was born in 1912. The family lived in a "melting pot" neighborhood, which Caye credited for broadening her understanding of other cultures. She was fiercely independent, intellectually curious, and a life-long learner. Her interests were as varied and eclectic as her many circles of friends. She had a "can-do" attitude, and could be stubborn at times, never wanting to admit defeat. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. She had "the gift of the gab" and was a dramatic, larger-than-life personality. Caye (known affectionately in her childhood days as "Mickey") graduated from Taylor-Alderdice High School in 1934. Sadly, her mother passed away when Caye was just 17, but wanted Caye to be able to support herself, so ensured that Caye went to beauty school and obtained her license. At the height of the great depression, Caye worked at any job she could get – sales clerk at the five and dime; receptionist at a lumber company; and payroll, time, and materials clerk for a defense plant where her brother Bob worked. During these years, Caye attended Carnegie Tech (which later became Carnegie-Mellon University) to study music, including the organ. She had learned to play the piano as a child, and nearly every other instrument in high school. In 1945, she came "East" to Berwyn, a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to help out for six months in her Aunt's beauty shop, since her Aunt (Elizabeth "Lil" McKee) had recently broken her leg, and needed help until she could get on her feet again. Caye wound up staying for twelve years. During this time, she enjoyed visiting with her brother's family, until they moved to Texas. One of her nieces, Judy, came to stay at Aunt Lil's as well, and finished high school and college there, and held a very special place in Caye's heart. During this time, Caye also enjoyed participating in Business and Professional Women's Club, Order of the Eastern Star, and serving as a church organist and choir director. On November 14, 1958, she and Lewis Frederick Speakman eloped. Theirs was a long and happy marriage of 38 years, until "Fred" passed away in 1997. They had two daughters, Linda Elaine and Janine Alison. Caye volunteered at her childrens' schools, learned how to do genealogical research, spin, weave, use natural dyes, make lace (tatting), and even cultivate silk worms! She had also learned to knit, crochet, embroider, and sew as a child. Handicrafts and textiles became one of her passions. On a trip to Ireland, Caye met two cousins who were teachers. They encouraged and inspired her to finish pursuing her four-year degree. In 1978, she received a B.A. from the University of Maryland, and was able to teach non-credit community classes in fiber arts through the institution's student union. She was very pleased to have finally achieved one of her life-long goals of earing a college degree. When her children were grown, Caye developed a passion for doll collecting, and she and Fred enjoyed many years of travel, for both doll and fiber arts conventions, including to New Zealand. She was a long-time member of Colesville Presbyterian Church in Silver Spring, where she was very active in the women's group and choir. In later years, she was a member of Interfaith Chapel in Leisure World. Survivors include: daughter Linda and son-in-law Allen Baughman of Bealeton, VA; daughter Janine Speakman, of Olney, MD; grandchildren David Baughman of Bealeton, VA; Alexander and Renae Littleford of Beaver Falls, PA; Brendan Littleford of Olney, MD; and Laura (née Littleford) and Ryan Wolfe of Aspen, Hill, MD; great grandsons Charles and Landon Littleford and Jonathan Wolfe; and five nieces and their extended families, and many relatives in Ireland. A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Colesville Presbyterian Church, 12800 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20904 (phone 301-622-4555/6). A reception, with light luncheon, will be held in the church's Fellowship Hall, immediately following the service. Interment of the ashes will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, later in the day. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, at www.heart.org or the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org.