Mrs. Catherine June (Howard) Bridgman of Newport, Arkansas, departed this life on Monday, January 25, 2021, at the tender age of 82 to be with her dearly beloved God. Catherine was born in Little Rock, AR on June 28, 1938 to Norman and Hattie (Fortney) Cummings. She attended Newport High School and married at a very young age in 1954. While living in various states across the United States with her husband, Dale Howard, who served in the U.S. Air Force, Catherine had five children. She was a devoted, fun, and loving Mother to her children and later a “playmate” and “story teller” to her 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. She loved to fish, sew, and play games of all kinds, talking with friends and especially cooking. She could cook any and everything her husband and son would bring home and make it a delicacy! Catherine taught her children to be kind, to care about and help others, to put God first in our prayers, and especially to love with our whole hearts. She worked at various jobs during her life until working as a master welder at Brown Jordan until retirement in 1998. She also donated her help and time with the Jackson County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad. Later in her life, Catherine married a childhood friend, Herbert Bridgman, who passed away in March, 2020 while living in Batesville, Arkansas.
Catherine is survived by her children, Rita H. Peterson and husband Brian of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Kathy Wills of Bono, Arkansas, Mark Howard and wife Karin of Newport, Arkansas, Rena Pourciau and husband A.J. of Jarreau, Louisiana and Lesa Roach and husband Roy of Mustang, Oklahoma. She is also survived by her loving sister, Nyoka Floyd and husband Gene (“Red”), of Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Catherine’s grandchildren are Heather Vetter and husband Todd of Leroy, Illinois, Wes Howard and wife Angela of Tuckerman, Arkansas, Irina Reynolds and husband Corey of Newport, Arkansas, Sara Lassiter and husband Garrett of Newport, Arkansas, Adam Weger and wife Ashley of Jarreau, Louisiana, Ty Sanders and Ashlea Hargett of Flowood, Mississippi, Olivia Roach of Mustang, Oklahoma and Catherine’s special little “angel” granddaughter, Ashley Rena Weger, who preceded her in death. Her great-grandchildren are Ashtyn Hall of Leroy, Illinois, Madison Howard and Christopher James (Howard) of Tuckerman, Arkansas, Millie Reynolds of Newport, Arkansas, Brayden Weger, Aubrey Weger, Haley Major and Jacob Major all of Jarreau, Louisiana.
Also surviving Catherine is her special niece Fara Moore and husband Jeremy and daughters Maggie Catherine and Macie of Jonesboro, Arkansas and Preston Floyd and wife Amy and daughters Presley and Whitley of Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Catherine was loved by many and will be missed by all who knew her. The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of the “friends” and “caregivers” who loved and cared for our Mother at The Waters of Newport Nursing Home.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home with Mr. Jimmy Cooper officiating. Interment will be in The Walnut Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 12:30-2:00 p.m. Pallbearers will be Adam Weger, Ty Sanders, Wes Howard, Todd Vetter, Preston Floyd and Jeremy Moore