Catherine Johnston

Catherine Kay Wood Johnston, 97, passed away in Brenham, Texas on December 22, 2014. Kay was born July 4, 1917 in Muskogee, Oklahoma to B. Frank and Mildred Turner Wood. She graduated from the Muskogee Public Schools before her family moved to Houston, Texas. She graduated from Rice University in 1939 with a B.A. degree in English/French. Upon graduation, she married Jack Woodrow Comiskey, and they remained together in Houston for 18 years. During these years, she served as the secretary for her father''s Fresno land business, taught primary grade Sunday School at Central Presbyterian Church and was an active member of the Houston Junior Forum. She later earned her Elementary Education Teaching Certificate through courses at the University of Houston. She dearly loved teaching first grade at Mark Twain Elementary School. In 1959, she married Harris Gregg Johnston, a prominent portrait and wedding photographer in Houston. He convinced her to leave the teaching profession to manage his photography studio. She was a brilliant executive and salesperson. In the mid-1970s, they retired to their farm in Burton, Texas. In the succeeding years, Kay was very active in the Burton Heritage Society and Bethany Christian Church. She held several offices in both the Heritage Society and the Christian Women''s Fellowship of her church. She also played the piano for the church for 17 years. Besides these activities, Kay loved playing golf and bridge, especially at the Bellville Golf and Recreation Club. She also delighted in planning detailed annual vacations to all parts of the United States and western Canada. She was very loving toward all members of the family and thoroughly enjoyed family and friends visiting in her home. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, her husband Harris Johnston and her sisters Jane Bitting and Gloria Stewart. Kay is survived by her twin sister, Alene Treadwell of Fort McKavett, Texas; her son William Frank Comiskey and wife Cathy of Burton, Texas; her daughter Betty Comiskey Fortner of Brenham, Texas; her step-son Robert Thomas Johnston of Burton, Texas, 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made in Kay Johnston''s honor to the Burton Heritage Society, PO Box 492, Burton Texas or to the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham where a visitation will be held from 5 - 7 pm on Friday, December 26. A service celebrating her life will be held at St. John''s United Church of Christ in Burton on December 27th at 1:00 pm.