Catherine Cowan Sinclair

Catherine Cowan Sinclair age 87, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 30, 2025, at OCH Regional Medical Center in Starkville, Mississippi. Catherine was born on January 16, 1938, in Morven, Scotland to Hugh and Katherine McRae Sinclair. She was reared with sisters, Margaret and Morag in Innellen, Scotland, where her father was the local pier master. At the completion of secondary school, Catherine determined not to follow her sisters into teaching but chose nursing instead. She trained as a nurse in several towns across Scotland, later sharing stories of daily treks up and down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, visiting patients in the Royal Miles’ many closes and shielding her ears at the report of the 1:00 gun booming from Edinburgh Castle. In spite of her love of nursing in Scotland, Catherine emigrated to California in 1967, where her elder sister Margaret had emigrated several years before her. In California, she spent her career as a nurse in the Los Angeles County Hospital system. Upon retirement from LA County, she continued her work at Freedom Village in Mission Viejo, California. She moved from Mission Viejo, California, to Starkville, Mississippi, in 2021, to be near her niece, Melissa Vaughn. Naturally musical from an early age, Catherine enjoyed playing the piano and sharing her gift with others. She immersed herself in bible study and various church activities attended Starkville Presbyterian Church in Starkville, Mississippi. She was also an inveterate letter writer, keeping in touch with family and friends around the world. Over three decades or more, she became a patron saint of dogs, adopting many who were older and infirm or whose original owners had passed away. She provided these dogs with alot of love and attention for the rest of each of their lives. She also enjoyed spending time with her nieces and their families. Catherine will be missed for her sense of humor, her ability to remember and share countless stories and family genealogies, and her enthusiasm for rearranging and redecorating her house on a regular basis. Catherine is survived by her sister, Morag Gilmour of Dunoon, Scotland; nieces, Julie Kolb of San Diego, California, Melissa Vaughn of Starkville, Mississippi, Sara Mclaughlin of Dunoon, Scotland, Kate Ward of Auckland, New Zealand and nephew, Hugh Gilmour of Longcross, England. She is preceded in death by her parents, Hugh and Katherine McRae Sinclair and one sister, Margaret Sinclair Kolb. A Memorial Service to celebrate Catherine's life will be held at a later date and she will be laid to rest in Scotland. The family requests that all memorials be made in remembrance of Catherine to any animal rescue or shelter of your choice. Oliver Funeral Home is entrusted with all arrangements for the Sinclair family.