Miss Peggy Lorraine “Miss Kitty” Eckerty, age 63, of Vevay, Indiana, entered this life on January 15, 1953, in Logansport, Indiana. She was the loving daughter of, Clarence Edwin and Thelma Lorraine (Underwood) Eckerty. She was raised in Madison, Indiana where she was a 1971 graduate of the Madison Consolidated High School. Peggy earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary education in 1976 and her master’s degree in 1983, from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Peggy completed her student teaching at the Johnathan Jennings Elementary School in Charlestown, Indiana. Peggy was first employed in the Occupational Therapy Department for the Madison State Hospital in Madison, from 1971 to 1976. Miss Kitty was employed as a 4th grade teacher for the Switzerland County School Corporation from 1977 to 1978, in a classroom in the Old Gym. In 1979, she began teaching at the Jeff-Craig Elementary School in Vevay, until 1996, where she taught 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade. Miss Kitty was currently teaching 4th grade for the Switzerland County Elementary School in East Enterprise, since 1996. Peggy established the Student Council program at the Switzerland County Elementary School. Every year, Peggy enjoyed coordinating and planning the Veterans Day Program at the Switzerland County Elementary School where she also sang all the official military songs. Miss Kitty was very active in the 4th grade Little Hoosiers History Club that was held at the Jeff-Craig Elementary School and Switzerland County Elementary School. Superintendent Mike Jones presented Peggy with a school bell in honor of her many years of teaching also shared with her that the Little Hoosiers History Club will be named the Peggy Eckerty Little Hoosiers Club. Peggy loved Indiana and loved to give her students a taste of Pioneer Day’s in Indiana. She was the coordinator of Pioneer Day that was held at the Switzerland County Elementary School. She was recognized by the Indiana Historical Society and awarded the prestigious “Caleb Mills Indiana History Teacher of the Year Award.” If you asked her students about her classes, they would have told you she was strict, fair, fun, and made Indiana History come to life. Peggy was a member of the Julia L. Dumont Literary Club where she was a past president, secretary and treasurer. She was a member of the Markland Baptist Church in Markland, Indiana, where she was a much-sought-after vocalist in the church and in her community. She was a member of the Vevay Music Club, where she participated and volunteered to benefit the Hoosier Theater and scholarships fundraising events. She worked tirelessly for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, where she obtained donations for “Relay for Life” and participated in the “Survivors Walk” every year. She was a former member of the Milton, Kentucky Women’s Club. Peggy was raised in the First Baptist Church in downtown Madison and was active in every program in the church. She was a member of the Indiana State Teacher’s Association, Switzerland County Teacher’s Association and the National Education Association. She served on the scholarship committee for the Community Foundation of Switzerland County and served on the Danglad Scholarship Committee. Peggy enjoyed singing church hymns and volunteering her time to serve her community. She also enjoyed shopping, swimming, talking on the phone, watching the “Young and the Restless”, the “Game Show Network”, “The Golden Girls” and spending time with her family, close friends, and her fur babies. The average person could not hope to keep up with her pace as she made her lists, planned her attack, and sought to educate our youth and community, yet if you would have asked her or complimented her, she would always deny that she did anything special. Miss Kitty, you will forever live in our hearts and in the Switzerland County community. We will forever miss your immense smile, your tender heart and your infectious laugh. You were an asset to the Switzerland County School Corporation where you dedicated your life to educating students for 38 years. She fought a gallant battle against breast cancer for the past 12 years. Peggy went to be with her Lord and Savior at 10:10 am, Saturday, August 13, 2016, at her residence in Madison, Indiana. Peggy is now rejoicing in the angels choir.
Peggy will be dearly missed by her mother: Thelma Lorraine (Underwood) Eckerty of Wilkinson, IN; her sisters: Judy Eades and her husband: Phil of Madison, IN; Pam Flowers and her husband: Chuck of Brown County, IN; Becky Burch and her husband: Jerry of Hanover, IN; Lisa Singer and her husband: Bob of Madison, IN and Susan Pyle and her companion: Jim McRoberts of Wilkinson, IN; her nieces and nephews: Carla Krebs, Janeen Blair, Beth Ann Skirvin, Scott Eades, Chuck Flowers, Kim Evans, Jeff Burch, Andy Burch, Angie Lockwood, Michele Turner, Brian Singer, Christi Bruer, Adam Pyle and Jared Pyle; her great-nieces and great-nephews; her 2-great-great nephews; her siamese cat: Precious Joy Eckerty of Madison, IN; her Vevay family: Rodney Nay, Sally Nay & Morgan Nay; Roger Nay, Luann Nay, Kayla Nay & Laura Nay Reagan and her numerous dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her father: Clarence Edwin Eckerty; her adopted parents: Rev. and Mrs. Merris and Freda Dice; her loving siamese cat: Hope Eckerty, passed away in 2011.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, August 20, 2016, at 11:00 am, by Pastor Bobby Brundige Jr. & Pastor Mike Jones at the Switzerland County Elementary School, 12862 Highway 250 East Enterprise, Indiana 47019.
Interment will follow in the Grandview Memorial Gardens, Madison, Indiana.
Friends may call 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Thursday, August 18, 2016, at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive, Madison, Indiana 47250, 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Friday, August 19, 2016, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home 208 Ferry Street Vevay, Indiana 47043 and 10:00 am until time of funeral service at the Switzerland County Elementary School, 12862 Highway 250, East Enterprise, Indiana 47019.
Memorial contributions may be made to Miss Peggy Lorraine “Miss Kitty” Eckerty Endowment Fund for the field of education % Community Foundation of Switzerland County. Cards are available at the funeral home.