Catherine R Bernard

On a bright sunny Southern California day, April 11, 1948, at Queen of Angels Hospital, Los Angeles, California, Catharine Rose Reed was born. Her parents Tom & Lucy were elated & all smiles to have a little girl, as her two older brothers Vee & Jay patiently waited to meet their new sister. After going home and getting all settled in with their new baby, Tom & Lucy decided to set up roots in Long Beach, California & grow the family. In the oncoming years Cathy welcomed a sister Vicki, brother John, & little brother Bill

Cathy’s youth was filled with activities, ballroom dancing, ballet, & the piano. Most of all, her favorite activities were playing with friends & going to the beach. Cathy grew up only a few minutes from the beautiful sandy beaches of Southern California. Whenever she would talk about Seal beach a smile would come to her face.

During the high school years attending Lakewood High School was the 60’s full of expression, freedom, war, & the Beach Boys. Cathy loved to dress the part right down to the bouffant flip hair do. One of the most fun things that she talked about was to go cruising up & down the Boulevard with Wolfman Jack spinning songs on the am radio.

After graduation from Lakewood High School in June of 1966 with a class of one thousand one hundred twelve kids the day was bustling with activities. Here summer was full of friends, cruising the boulevard & starting Cosmetology School.

In the Fall of 1966 Cathy & her sister Vicki was cruising around in her dad’s car. Cathy like to take her dad’s car for one specific reason, it had a sticker permit on it to get access to the United States Naval base, in which gave her access to go flirt with the military boys. On this particular day going through the gate there was a handsome young Marine with sparkling blue eyes & a big smile that captured her heart for the rest of her life. His name was Royce Bernard.

After a winter long courtship Cathy & Royce decided to get married. On Sunday, April 30th, 1967, at 3pm she said I do, to the love of her life & the journey began. After their marriage they moved to Royce’s family farm South of Enders, Nebraska. Cathy had not even visited Nebraska before she made this leap of faith.

While getting settled in Nebraska, Cathy had a huge adjustment from living in one of the most populated places in the United States to living 20 miles from the closest town of Imperial, which population was smaller than her graduating class of 1112 people. There was extreme darkness with only the moon light along with the deafening silence of the Nebraska countryside. If that wasn’t enough of a challenge she had to learn to cook. Luckily Cathy’s mother-in-law, Mabel tucked her under her wing to help navigate this new lifestyle. Over the years Cathy became one of the most wonderful cooks there was.

Over the next four years of moving to Nebraska her family was established. Her first born was Tommy in 1967, Becky in 1969, & Missy in 1970. The family was a close nit group with farming, ranching, & lots of 4H activities which was enjoyed most of the time with extended family. The weeks & weekends was filled with farming, working cattle, putting up hay, taking care of the crops & working in the garden along with helping neighbors with the same activities. What Cathy enjoyed most was helping cook a big feast for the hungry crew to come in and enjoy while the work was being done.

In the early 80’s Royce & Cathy decided to move the family into town of Imperial. Royce made a career change to owning his own truck & starting R&C Transportation. With Royce being gone most of the month Cathy used this time to expand her Avon business to most of the community. She loved to go to all the customers & visit to pass the time to fill the void of Royce out on the road.

When Cathy wasn’t busy with her Avon her joy was to go to here and there to the Grandkids events to cheer them on. If she was home, you could find her in the garden tending the numerus vegetables or plating beautiful flowers.

After Royce’s death in Aug 2018 Cathy needed to keep occupied and started to work at Dollar General, which she absolutely loved. She not only took pride in the store; she was able to stay connected to the community of Chase County and people of Imperial. Not only did she care for each and every person they all loved her back.

On June 3, 2023, Cathy left this Earth, and her soul went to be with the handsome, blue eyed, smiling Marine that she fell in love with 56 years ago on a warm Fall Day in Southern California. God, please make your face shine on them as they are together for eternity at your side loving each other every day.

Cathy’s death was proceeded by husband Royce, father Tom, Mother Lucy, brother Vee, brother Jay, Father-in-Law George, Mother-in-Law Mable, Sister-in-Law Lois Ann and Janet Knight, Brother-in-Law Arlyn Cox, & Brother-in-Law Dale Likins.

Survivors: Children Tommy & Sally Bernard (Kearney, NE), Becky (Imperial, NE), Missy & Mark Shaylor (South Prince George, VA). Grandchildren April Bernard and boyfriend Kurt OBrien (Hastings, NE), Tanner Bernard and Fiancé Lauren Ewinger (Fort Meyers, FL), Hannah Bernard (Scottsdale, AZ), Hailey Bernard (Paris, France), Max Bernard (Imperial, NE) and Jaiden Shaylor (South prince George, VA). Sister Vicki and Ed Dugan (Long Beach, CA), Brother John Reed (Long Beach, CA), Bill Reed (Sonora, CA), & Sister-in-Law Jeanine Cox (Champion, NE). Along with many nieces, nephews and extended families.

Memorial Services will be August 4, 2023, at 10 a.m. at the Berean Church with Pastor Matt Maxwell. In lieu of flowers a memorial is suggested to the Bernard Family.




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