Anise Vandervort Catlett went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Feb. 28, 2024, after a valiant 15-month battle with appendiceal cancer. She was surrounded by her husband, children and grandchildren in her final days. Anise was born in Morgantown, on July 12, 1940, to Freda Tutwiler Vandervort and Hu Swisher Vandervort.
She graduated from Morgantown High School in 1958 and West Virginia University in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s degree in 1963. Anise married W. Gale Catlett in 1963 whom she met while she was a WVU cheerleader and he was a WVU basketball player. During their 60-year marriage, they had two daughters, Krista and Kara, to whom she was devoted for the rest of her life. When Anise and Gale moved to Richmond, Va., in 1963, she started her career as a teacher at Manchester High School. She continued teaching when they moved to Davidson, N.C., in 1966. After moving to Lawrence, Kansas in 1967, Anise was a professor at the University of Kansas and started the Women’s Gymnastics Team. Anise and Gale lived in Lexington, Ky., from 1971-72 before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1972, and finally home to Morgantown in 1978. Anise was Gale’s most loyal (and vociferous) supporter throughout his coaching career. She never met a stranger and made countless friends wherever she went, with whom she kept in touch throughout her life and whose love, support and prayers sustained her.
Anise loved to dance and enjoyed being a part of Junior Orchesis at Morgantown High as well as Orchesis at WVU. She was also a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and started the Citizens Concerned for Community Values in Morgantown. She was involved with these organizations for her entire life. Anise also hosted a weekly Bible study in her home in Morgantown. She dearly loved the ladies who were a part of it with her and took great joy in hosting them each week. Anise loved to travel and after Gale’s retirement, they found rest and relaxation in yearly trips to her favorite place on earth, Kona, Hawaii. Anise and Gale also enjoyed spending several months each year in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. with her twin sister Nancy. She and Gale loved frequent trips to Australia to visit dear friends. Anise was a world traveler, including many basketball-related trips with Gale throughout Australia, Europe and Asia. She also spent time in Taiwan, China, Japan, Turkey, Kenya and Sweden taking care of her daughter and family during their time living abroad.
Anise will be missed immensely by her devoted husband, Gale; her children and their spouses, Krista and Ed Neumann of Arlington, Va., and Kara and Thomas Brown of Morgantown; as well as her grandchildren, Madi and Ty Brown, and Sam and Lila Neumann. Her family has comfort in knowing that she will be at peace with Jesus in Heaven until they see her again. Anise spent her life loving and caring for her family and friends and seeking the Lord in her Bible study and church.
The family will have a private graveside service with a Celebration of Life service at a later date. They would especially like to thank those who helped care for Anise in her final days, including dear friend Jan Merow as well as the loving team from WV Caring Hospice.
Donations can be made in Anise’s memory to Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of Morgantown (designated for the Great Commission Fund), 308 Elmhurst Street, Morgantown, WV 26505; WV Caring Hospice (designated for the Friendship Manor House), 3433 University Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26505; or WVU Foundation, One Waterfront Place, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507-9939.
Hastings Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
Condolences:
www.hastingsfuneralhome.com
