Katherine S. Bears

Pittsfield – Katherine S. Bears, Kate, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2012, at Hillcrest Commons in Pittsfield, MA, at the age of 94. Born on March 11, 1918, in DeKalb, NY, she was the beloved daughter of Eva May Grimshaw and Hollis Taylor. Kate was a homemaker for her family for many years. After the death of her husband, Malcolm Taylor Bears Jr., Mickey, in 1971, she became a home health aide for towns in Jefferson County, NY. Kate was very active in her community, Carthage, NY. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and served as an elected member of the Board of Education for the Carthage Central School system for several years.
Kate is pre-deceased by her husband, Malcolm Taylor Bears Jr., a Bronze Star recipient and veteran of World War II, her parents, Hollis and Eva Taylor, her brother, Philo Taylor, and her sisters, Mary Peebles, Leona Woodward and Arlene Dubois. Kate is survived by her two sons, Malcolm Taylor Bears III, Ted, of Stephentown, NY, and Hollis Robert Bears of Las Vegas, NV, her sister, Orlinda Derby, Lynn, of Carthage, her grandchildren, Malcolm Taylor Bears IV, Mac, and his wife Christine of Stephentown and Nan Rose Bears Card and her husband Kenneth Card of Pittsfield, as well as her great-grandchildren, Taylor Rose Bears and Cole William Gerstel.
A memorial service is on Friday, May 11, at 12 pm at the Stephentown Federated Church, 1513 Garfield Road, Stephentown, NY, 12168 with Reverend Susan Schultz officiating. A reception will follow the service.
Interment will be at the Black River Cemetery, Black River, NY, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Stephentown Federated Church.