Catherine was born April 24, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois. She was the daughter of Robert Leonard and Margaret Jean (McBurney) Rardin. She graduated from Tryon High School in North Carolina in 1983.

She was married to Michael Frederick Neal on November 19, 1990 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. They made their home in Tryon and became the parents of two children.

Catherine worked in the dietary department at the Life Care Center Nursing Home in Osawatomie. She had also worked as a pastry chef while in North Carolina.

She was preceded in death by her father.

She is survived by her husband Michael of the home; her son, John Gordon Neal of the home; her daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Neal of the home; her mother, Margaret Rardin of Landrum; her brother, Richard Allen Rardin of Tryon; her sister, Marion Whitman of Shawnee and her twin sister Laura Jean Huntsinger of Tryon; other relatives and friends.

A memorial service was held at Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2009.