Catherine Murray Houghton

Catherine Murray Houghton was born May 20, 1925, in Ranger, Texas to parents Walter and Blanche (Talley) Murray.

She was the third of four daughters: Doris, Mavis, Catherine and Marilyn.  Her parents were publishers of newspapers throughout Texas and also in the oil business. In high school Catherine fell in love with Bill Houghton, who also grew up in Ranger.  They were married in 1947, when Bill returned from WWII.  They moved to Breckinridge where Jan and Deborah, their two daughters, were born.

In 1953, they moved their family to Mineral Wells, Texas and were the publishers of the Mineral Wells Index, Palo Pinto Star and Strawn Tribune.  They were very involved in the community and had lifelong friends there. In 1997, they moved to Dallas, Texas to be near their daughters.

Catherine was an avid and serious bridge player all of her life.  She excelled in Duplicate Bridge.

Catherine and Bill joined Prestonwood Baptist Church and made many dear friends.  They enjoyed their life in Dallas with their daughters and grandchildren.  When Bill passed away in 2011 Catherine soon moved to Highland Springs Retirement Community for 6 years

Six weeks prior to her passing, she moved into her daughter, Jan’s home. She passed peacefully in her new favorite chair, that her good friend, Micky Ivy had given to her.

Catherine is survived by her daughters Jan Smith and Deborah Arnold and her husband Frank Grassler; grandchildren Cathi Hohlt and her husband Kevin, Cindy Harris and her husband Robert, Jerry B Smith, Jr., Brison Arnold, Kate Slaughter and her husband Nathan; great grandchildren Megan Harris and her husband Dan, Brittany Hohlt and her husband Arnold, Ocean Smith, Samuel Harris, Van, Luke and Ford Slaughter.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill Houghton, son in law Jerry Smith, sisters Doris Rawlin, Mavis Smith and Marilyn Hickey.

There will be a funeral service to celebrate Catherine’s life at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Prestonwood Baptist Church, 6801 W Park, Plano, Texas 75093, with Pastor Neal Jeffrey officiating.

Catherine will be laid to rest with her husband at Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas.