Catherine Lee Vardeman

Funeral service for Catherine Lee Vardeman, 72, of Lawton, Oklahoma will be held at Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with Chad Fetzer, Pastor of New Haven Church, officiating. 

Mrs. Vardeman passed away at her home in Lawton, Oklahoma on Thursday, November 2, 2023.

Burial will be held at Flower Mound Memorial Gardens, Lawton, Oklahoma under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home. 

Catherine “Cathy” was born on October 24, 1951 in Lawton, OK to Josepheus “Raff” and Vivian Cooper. She grew up in Lawton and graduated from Lawton High School in 1969. She married Wade Jack Vardeman on April 9, 1971 and together they had three 3 children in 37 months, Aimee, Wade Jack “Sam” and Amanda “Birdie.” 
Cathy worked for Bill Gross, CPA, as a bookkeeper from 1970-1975 and from 1981-1997 she owned Cathy’s Typing Service which provided typing services for local appraisers. In 1988, she began assisting her husband in the family business operations, serving as secretary and bookkeeper for D&R Auto Salvage and Recycling, Inc. After her divorce, Cathy moved to Stillwater, OK in 1997 to be near her children. She owned and managed rental properties and was partner in an antique furniture consignment and art gallery business. She enjoyed painting, fixing up furniture and all aspects of remodeling her rental properties. In 2002, it was off to an adventure in Santa Fe New Mexico. She became partner and managing editor of Santa Fe Publishing Company. She also worked as a legal secretary at the Ross Law Firm and it was position she enjoyed very much. Cathy moved back to Lawton in 2005 and established Lawton Cleaning Professionals, cleaning many houses and businesses. She also worked as legal secretary for John Kinslow, Robert Schacher and her daughter Aimee Vardeman. She married Tom Lemming on January 2, 2014 and retired.

Of all the jobs she held, the one Cathy most cherished was that of Mom. She served on the PTA board and cheered for each of her children on the sidelines at their respective sporting events. She was an excellent mother, showering her kids with love and support. Her kids can attest to having the best childhood. Cathy had many other hobbies including playing piano, sewing, fishing, researching and discussing health issues as well as politics. 

Survivors include Aimee Vardeman Berry (Zack) of Lawton, Sam Vardeman (Kelley) of Oklahoma City, Amanda Vardeman Thomas (Travis) of Grapevine, TX; grandchildren, Brooke Parker, of Oklahoma City, ZJ Berry of Lawton, Evie Thomas of Grapevine, and Berklee Berry of Lawton; Kayleigh Vardeman of Oklahoma City; aunt, Marcia Scott of Albuquerque, NM; siblings, Carol Strickland of Lawton, David Cooper (Nelda) of Lawton, Joe Cooper of Lawton. Special nephew Jonathan Cooper of Rogers, Arkansas. Many nieces, nephews, and cherished friends.  

Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Lemming, her parents and former husband, Jack Vardeman. Donations in Cathy’s name can be made to A Chance to Change 2113 West Britton Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73120. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Catherine Lee Vardeman, please visit our floral store.