Catherine "Cathy" Shea, age 76 of St. Louis, Missouri passed away peacefully at 9:53 PM Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Kindred Hospital with family by her side and fourth of July fireworks going off in the distance. She was born May 8, 1950, in Quincy, Illinois, to John Curt and Elizabeth Ann (nee Ahrenhold) Eisenmayer of Stronghurst, Illinois. On August 5, 2015, she married her companion of 20 years, Michael R. Shea, Sr. He preceded her in death on March 22, 2020.

Cathy graduated from Southern High School in Stronghurst, Illinois in 1968.  She worked as a brakeman for Burlington Northern Railroad in Chillicothe, Illinois for several years before moving to Nauvoo, Illinois for 6 years. In 1984 she moved to St. Louis, Missouri working as a secretary at Ursuline Academy and Mehlville School District where she ultimately retired in 2005.

Cathy had a magnetic, welcoming personality and made friends with everyone she met. She loved to cook and would let it be known her version of some long-standing family recipes were better.  She loved music and reading Rod McKuen's poetry. She wanted her life to be remembered with smiles and laughter.

Cathy is survived by her only child, a daughter, Amelia Ann (Jeffrey) Counts of Ballwin, Missouri; a brother, Thomas Conrad (Linda) Eisenmayer of Anchorage, Alaska; a sister, Margaret Christine Olsen of Raymore, Missouri; 6 nieces and nephews and 16 great nieces and nephews and her beloved, favorite grand dog, Sasha. She is preceded in death by her parents, one sister Mary Elizabeth Yakle, a brother-in-law Daniel Olsen and one niece.

She loved to collect lighthouse figurines, books and pictures thus her life will be honored with an intimate ceremony with her family later this year by spreading her ashes near a lighthouse.  Cathy requested friends to honor her memory with a contribution to the Humane Society of Missouri or to MST Fire Protection District in Stronghurst, Illinois where her father was a volunteer for 65 years.