Catherine Mccluskey

Catherine Lucile “Katy” (Ousley) McCluskey, 100, of Bettendorf, Iowa, died on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at the Iowa Masonic Health Facilities in Bettendorf.

Due to the current pandemic, a memorial service to celebrate her life will be postponed. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to River Action, Inc., or to the Davenport Unitarian Universalist Memorial Fund. McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home of Bettendorf is assisting the family with arrangements.

Katy was born on April 29, 1920 in Kansas City, Missouri, the adopted daughter of James W. & Myra V. (Cobb) Ousley. She attended Des Moines schools and Drake University. On January 16, 1944, she was united in marriage to Robert V. McCluskey of Bettendorf who preceded her in death on June 14, 1990.

During her college years she modeled for Younker’s Department Store of Des Moines and during WWII she served her country as a Rosie working at the Des Moines Ordinance Plant loading tracer shells and as expediter at Minneapolis Moline Power Implement Co. in Moline, Illinois. In later years she worked at the Bettendorf Schools System and the Outdoor Education Program.

Katy guided her four daughters through their youth by serving with the River Bend Girl Scout Council and the Iowanna Campfire Girls, Inc. She was honored for her outstanding services to her church congregation and her community, receiving the Clara Barton Award, the Unsung Unitarian Universalist Award and the Campfire Girls Wakan Award.

She enjoyed camping, garage sales, crafts, was an avid reader and had a special connection with the Mississippi River and the outdoors.

Those left to honor her memory include her children, Shirley (Mrs. Denny) Richlen, of Bettendorf, Nancy McCluskey of Bettendorf, Peggy (Mrs. Bruce) Blevins of Lavalette West Virginia and Patsey (Mrs. Rick) Meeker of Davenport, Iowa; her 11 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her great-grandson Briar Lothridge.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting Katy’s obituary at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.