Katherine "Katy" LeRoy

Katherine ""Katy"" (Catalina Maldonado Romero) LeRoy, passed away peacefully at her home on March 25, 2017, surrounded by her loved ones. Katherine was 102 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband Louis Leroy, Sr., son Louis LeRoy, Jr., her parents Josefa Maldonado Romero and Manuel Ronquillo Romero, her brothers Jose and Isidro Romero.

Katherine was born on October 3, 1914, in Tucson, Arizona. She was named after the Catalina mountains, and her spirit and endurance was as strong as the mountains!

Katherine ""Katy"" came to Yuma to work as a beautician in the 1930's and remained in Yuma. She met the love of her life, Louis LeRoy and they were married in 1940 and started their family. Throughout her years, Katy was active in many community affairs and supported youth activities in Yuma. She was a member of the Hacienda Social Club of Yuma, Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, a youth leader for Blue Bird and Camp Fire Girls for over 20 years, a dance teacher who organized a group of performing youngsters (majorettes); and she ran a boy's bike club, and traveled throughout Arizona with Ken's Bicycle Mustangs--a Motocross racing team. For many years, she and her husband traveled in the support vehicle for their son, Ken, who raced throughout Arizona, the US, and Mexico. As an entrepreneur, she owned and operated the Spanish Café, Katy's Beauty Salon, and was co-owner of Ken's Bicycles. Katy was a working member of the North End Classic committee for over 20 years. But, foremost, she was a mother, wife, and homemaker for her family.

The matriarch of the LeRoy family, Katy is survived by her children, Jeanette Lee-Randall (Stephen Ellsworth Randall) of Phoenix, AZ, Lorraine Merkel of Tucson, AZ, and Kenneth Charles LeRoy (Lindy Lott LeRoy) of Yuma. Her siblings, Ramon M. Romero, Gloria Romero Muniz, and Teresa Romero Vasquez of Tucson, AZ, and Charlie Romero (Theresa ""Terry"" Sullivan Romero) of San Diego, CA. Seven grandchildren, Barbara Anne Randall (Scott David Simpkins) of Dallas, TX; Stephanie Lorraine Martin (Ronald Avery Martin) of Yuma; Thomas James Wilson Lee of Ft Lauderdale, FL; Ann-Jeanette ""AJ"" Mosqueda (Ernesto Mosqueda) of Yuma; Raylene Marie Becker (Gavin Becker) of Lompoc, CA; Ryan Todd Urbach (Ronnette Zuiderweg-Urbach) of Bend, OR; and Katherine Lott LeRoy of Yuma. Twelve great grandchildren, Thomas ""Sparkie"" Brooks Collins (Ashlea Thornhill Collins) of Dallas, TX; Jennifer Taylor and Jeffrey Taylor Martin of Yuma; Savannah Brianne Moss Urbach of Bend, OR; Armando Alonso, Anthony Michael, Alexander Zachary, Enaya Marie, and Andrew Thomas Mosqueda of Yuma, AZ; and Cole Gavin, Cara Janae, and Cali Rae Becker of Lompoc, CA.

Mass will be Saturday, April 8th at 9:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Yuma, Arizona, with Father Emilio Chapa officiating.

Arrangements under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Yuma, AZ.