Taylor, Mary Catherine (nee McKerral) M. Catherine Taylor, a longtime South Suburban resident and for the past 20 years a Chicago resident, passed away on Sunday, September 2nd. Catherine was the beloved daughter of Gordon D. and Mary M. McKerral, both deceased. She is survived by: her daughter, Shannon M. Zegar; her sisters, Margaret "Peggy" McKerral and Ann A. Wilder; her brother, Gordon D. "Mac" McKerral; and her grand-dog, Zeus. She will be sorely missed by: her nephews, Vince Hodges and Thomas Felton; her niece, Eve Jorczak; her great-nephews, Gavin, Mac, Cole and Billy; her great-nieces, Haley and Charley; and her extended family, Ribhe Zegar, Conrad Kiebles, Frank Wilder, Susannah Hodges and Heather Felton. Since 2008 she was the Associate Director for the Center for Disability & Elder Law in Chicago. This position followed 15 years of private practice most recently with the firm of Spain Spain and Varnet PC, where she focused on probate, specifically guardianship and decedents' estates, as well as estate and benefit planning for persons with disabilities and their families. She also practiced in the areas of family law and general civil litigation. Catherine was active in the Chicago Bar Association and served on the Probate Practice and Legal Aid Committees. She also served on the general practice Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. Catherine began her legal career following a twenty year administrative career at Governor's State University in positions including Executive Assistant to the President, Affirmative Action Officer and Dean of Student Affairs, where she developed policies and programs for compliance with Federal and State statutes related to employment, education and access for persons with disabilities. She was licensed in Illinois and was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. Catherine was awarded her Juris Doctorate from DePaul University after earning Master's of Arts and Master's of Public Administration degrees from Governor's State University. She earned her bachelor's from the University of Illinois-Chicago and graduated with honors as an Edward James Scholar. There will be a visitation and a memorial service at Lain-Sullivan Funeral Home, 50 Westwood Dr., Park Forest, IL 60466 on Thursday, September 6th. Visitation will be from 4:00pm to 5:30pm and the service will start at 5:30pm. Please come to celebrate her life and share some memories of Catherine. In lieu of flowers, Catherine would appreciate donations in her memory to the Joliet Area Community Hospice and/or to The Center for Disability & Elder Law. Information on these two worthy recipients will be available at the service or from Shannon Zegar at rzsmt1@comcast.net.
Published in Chicago Sun-Times on September 6, 2012
