Laura Catherine Mccaleb

Laura Catherine McCaleb, 89, of Topeka, died April 20, 2013. She was born in her parent's home (Fred & Abbie Cooper) near Geuda Springs, Kansas on April 29, 1923. Cathe, as she preferred to be called, moved to Topeka to be near family members in 2008 from Tucson, Arizona, where she had lived for many years. She also had lived in Dwight, KS, where her husband, Joe, preceded her in death in 1987. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Topeka.

Surviving family members include daughters, Janet Frieden (John) of Topeka, Kay Lee (Ed) of Grand Junction, CO; Christa Grijalva and Sal DeStasio of Providence, RI; son, Dr. Richard Decker (Ellie) of Lenexa, KS; brother in law, Bob McCaleb (Glenna) of Junction City, KS; sister in law, Lola Williams of Derby, KS; 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

She was known as "Grandma the Great" and as her grandson said, "We miss you already, Grandma, because of the incredible impact you had on us and of course, because you are, in fact, GREAT."

Services will be held Friday, April 26 at 1:00 p.m. in the Presbyterian Manor Chapel, 4712 SW 6th Ave., private burial will be in the Dwight Kansas Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Easter Seals Capper Foundation, 3500 SW 10th Ave. Topeka, KS 66604.