Catherine "Kitty" was born in Benzie County Michigan. She was the fifth child of her family, spending her childhood in Michigan's Upper Peninsula city of Negaunee. While a child, her mother died of an aneurism while hanging out the laundry. Her father Ezra was unable to care for her and her younger brother Peter, so they were brought to live in the lower Michigan peninsula, living with Ezra's brother and sister-in-law in Northeast Grand Rapids. Kitty married her local sweetheart Melvin Peel. They together had a daughter Ruth. Tragically Melvin died of Lockjaw in his 24th year leaving Kitty a widow with a young daughter. Brother Peter worked downtown Grand Rapids as a nurseryman. He encouraged fellow employee, George Ayars, 14 years her elder and a widower himself to meet. Kitty and George were married in 1893. Together they had three children, George, John Russell, and Elsie. George died in 1912 leaving Kitty again a young widow at age 43. Kitty eventually moved to Toledo, Ohio. She died in 1918 in Toledo. Her body was brought back to Grand Rapids where she is buried beside her two husbands.
Catherine "Kitty" was born in Benzie County Michigan. She was the fifth child of her family, spending her childhood in Michigan's Upper Peninsula city of Negaunee. While a child, her mother died of an aneurism while hanging out the laundry. Her father Ezra was unable to care for her and her younger brother Peter, so they were brought to live in the lower Michigan peninsula, living with Ezra's brother and sister-in-law in Northeast Grand Rapids. Kitty married her local sweetheart Melvin Peel. They together had a daughter Ruth. Tragically Melvin died of Lockjaw in his 24th year leaving Kitty a widow with a young daughter. Brother Peter worked downtown Grand Rapids as a nurseryman. He encouraged fellow employee, George Ayars, 14 years her elder and a widower himself to meet. Kitty and George were married in 1893. Together they had three children, George, John Russell, and Elsie. George died in 1912 leaving Kitty again a young widow at age 43. Kitty eventually moved to Toledo, Ohio. She died in 1918 in Toledo. Her body was brought back to Grand Rapids where she is buried beside her two husbands.
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