Funeral Services for Catherine Lindner Spratley of Brookhaven, formerly of Gulfport, are 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with burial in Catholic Cemetery. Harrigill Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation is Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, from 10 a.m. until time of service at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

Mrs. Spratley, 85, died Jan. 6, 2015, at her residence surrounded by family. She was born on Nov. 14, 1929, in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Marvin D. Lindner and Catherine Eva Lindner.

When she was 4 years old, her family moved back home to Kreole after being born and living in Scranton. While growing upon the Mississippi Gulf Coast, she attended Moss Point High School, where she graduated in May 1947 as valedictorian.

Mrs. Spratley worked at Pascagoula Moss Point Bank where she met her husband to be, Arthur Spratley, and they married in Febuary of 1949. In 1950, they moved to Gulfport where they started their family of five children and lived for the next 55 years. She was a phenomenal cook, created handmade heirloom clothing for her children and grandchildren and played piano and sang beautifully. She never met a crossword puzzle she couldn’t solve. She proudly created a loving home for her husband and children filled with her grace and beauty. She was actively involved in several Coast civic organizations, as well as in her church community, attending and serving at St. John’s Catholic Church, and then at St. James Catholic Church. On Feb. 22, 2014, Mr. and Mrs. Sprately celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with a special Mass, renewing their vows at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Brookhaven.

Preceding her in death were her parents; sisters, Gracie Switzer and Elizabeth McMillan; brothers, Marvin, Charles (Chic) and Kenneth Lindner; and her nephew, Steve Khun.

Survivors are her devoted husband, Arthur Spratley; her five children, Laurie (Monty) Stephens of Lake City, Florida, Amy (Rob) Mason of Brookhaven, Michael (Pattie) Spratley of Baltimore, Maryland, John (Wendy) Spratley of Birmingham, Alabama and Stephen Spratley of Lake Charles, Louisiana; her six grandchildren, Sarah Stephens, Marissa Spratley, Abigail Spratley, Janie Spratley, Zachary Mason and Eva Mason.

Since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2005, Mr. and Mrs. Spratley have been lovingly cared for by their youngest daughter, Amy Mason, her husband, Rob, and six-year-old granddaughter, Eva, in their home in Brookhaven. The family would also like to thank Ms. Veronica Lawson, as well as Tracy Freeny and Mildred Virgil with Sta-Home Health, and also Sherry Britt and Denise Vanison with Hospice Ministries for the loving care they have all provided both Mr. and Mrs. Spratley.