Robert & Catherine McArtor

Robert Brown “Bob” McArtor and Catherine Ada “Cathy” Hester McArtor have both gone home to be with the Lord. They met each other on the beach in Florida and were never separated until, after 64 years of marriage, Bob passed away.

Bob was 88 when he passed away September 11, 2021 after suffering with prostate cancer. Cathy was 90 when she passed away September 17, 2026 after her battle with Alzheimer’s. Both had been in the care of Calvert City Nursing and Rehab in Calvert City, Kentucky.

Bob was born August 10, 1933 in Springfield, Missouri to Brown and Lula Mae Luper McArtor. Bob served his country in the US Air Force, worked in the aerospace industry during the Apollo space program, then finished his career in the machine shop business. He loved mules, bluegrass music and making people laugh. He never met a child or a dog who didn’t love him. He could often be found working outside in his garden.

Cathy was born October 26, 1935 in Green River, North Carolina to Michael and Ada Merdel Hester. She grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida, graduated from Furman University in 1957. She worked as a social worker, an office manager for the machine shop where Bob was Vice President, and finished her career helping with fundraising and alumni relations in the Development Office at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky. She loved to crochet, giving many handmade gifts to her family and friends. She enjoyed being part of the ladies’ social group, the Red Hat Society in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Bob and Cathy were married in 1957 and started their young family in West Palm Beach, FL, Huntsville, AL and Titusville, FL. Later they moved their two sons and a daughter to Georgetown, KY, with a brief move Longmont, CO, before returning to Georgetown. They enjoyed square dancing and traveling the country in their RV. They kept in touch with family members, often visiting Bob’s family in Missouri or Cathy’s in Florida. After retirement they moved to Spring Hill, TN and eventually to western Kentucky.

They are survived by their children: Jerry McArtor (Cindy), Tony McArtor, and Bev McArtor Kassis (Dan); grandchildren: Ian McArtor (Becky), Cory McArtor (Adah), Branden McArtor (Gabrie), Kayla McArtor Trani (Patrick), Trevor Kassis, Aidan Kassis and Brenna Kassis; and eleven great-grandchildren. They were preceded in death by their parents and siblings: Jane McArtor Rand, James “Bud” McArtor, Virginia Emma Hester, and Michael J. Hester, Jr.

A joint celebration of life will be held on September 26, 2026 at 3 pm at Herman H Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut Street, Springfield, MO 65806.

Visitation will be from 1 pm to 3 pm on September 26, 2026 at Herman H Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut Street, Springfield, MO 65806.

Interment will be at Hazelwood Cemetery on September 26, 2026 at 11:00 am, 1642 E Seminole St, Springfield, MO 65804

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Alzheimer’s Association or American Cancer Society.