In Loving Memory

Catherine Anne (Carter) Mire

August 15, 1955 - September 13, 2025

Catherine (Carter) Mire, 70, of Frederick Maryland, passed away on September 13, 2025. She was a beloved daughter, sister, mother, aunt, and grandmother. She was also a skilled fiber artist, cat lover, excellent cook, attentive friend, perpetual learner and a caring soul who will be greatly missed.

Catherine was born in Oklahoma in 1955 to Medora and Whitney Carter, and grew up in Kingsport, TN. In 1968, her father was transferred to England by Tennessee Eastman, where Catherine attended Marymount International School. She immersed herself in everything England had to offer, relishing and absorbing the history, art, and culture before returning to Kingsport. She graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School in 1973 and attended the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University, where she majored in English and graduated with honors.

Catherine devoted her life to raising her daughter, Laura. She went to great lengths to foster a memorable and well rounded childhood. She was an active member of parent-teacher organizations, and shuttled Laura to numerous dance classes, music lessons, sports practices, and cultural institutions. Catherine delighted in creating Christmas traditions and memories, taking care to meticulously wrap each gift with beautiful paper, elaborate ribbons, and unique embellishments. She always said her greatest joy in life was becoming a mother, followed closely by becoming a grandmother. She loved sharing pictures of her grandchildren with friends and family, and cherished every moment she spent with them.

Catherine was an avid learner, constantly deepening, perfecting, and acquiring knowledge and skills. Her meticulous research, precision, and attention to detail made her work stand out. She was a terrific cook, known especially for her boned chicken and mashed potatoes. She was also a talented baker, and her chocolate cakes set the bar for all others. She was also a fantastic gift giver, giving great thought to each gift. Her father in particular, would marvel at the creative gifts she gave him. She researched family ancestry long before it was easy and popular - accessing non-public records, finding lost documents, piecing together lost histories and sharing it all with future generations. But her true passion was fiber arts and other crafts: carding wool, spinning yarn, weaving on multiple styles and sizes of looms, knitting masterpieces to give away, quilting heirlooms, folding complex 200-step origami creations, even braiding ribbon into her daughter’s hair. Her work was perfect, beautiful, and created with tremendous love. She studied weaving and other fiber arts at several prestigious craft schools including the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina and was an active member of MAFA (Mid-Atlantic Fiber Association).

Finally, Catherine was a dedicated animal lover. She rescued a number of cats over the years, including Carly, who lived well into her 20’s, and always spoiled and pampered the pets of friends and family.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, Medora and Whitney Carter of Kingsport TN. She is survived by her loving daughter Laura (Kenny) Takahashi, her two grandchildren, her siblings Laura Carter Maddocks of Kingsport TN, Dr. Peter (Kathleen) Carter of Memphis TN, Ernest (Khanh) Carter, and her nieces and nephews.