Cathy Arlene Sinclair

Cathy Arlene Sinclair of Danville passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, surrounded by her loving family, at the age of 76. She was born January 24, 1949 in Danville, IL, to Robert Wallace and Sara Elizabeth McDaniels.

Cathy lived a life defined by hard work, dedication, and care for others. In addition to being a loving mother, she embraced many roles throughout her life—from cleaning and factory work to serving others as a Certified Nursing Assistant. For the past 25 years, Cathy proudly drove a school bus for District 118, a job she truly loved. From behind the wheel, she watched generations of children grow, forming bonds that lasted well beyond their school years. Her scrapbooks, filled with cards and drawings from the children she cared for, stand as a beautiful testament to the lives she touched. The family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of kind words and heartfelt cards from her coworkers at First Student, a reflection of the respect and affection she inspired.

Cathy was truly unforgettable—a strong, determined woman and a fiercely loyal friend. She never hesitated to help those in need and gave generously from the heart. Her iron will carried her through every challenge, whether earning her G.E.D. later in life, becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant, or graduating from beautician school. When Cathy set her mind to something, nothing could stand in her way. She was the rock of her family, a source of strength and encouragement for everyone who knew her. Her legacy of resilience, kindness, and unwavering love will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to call her family or friend.

Cathy had a lifelong love for dogs and was rarely seen without a lively pack of small pups, each treated like royalty in her home. Her cherished Chihuahua, Ollie, was her constant shadow and rarely left her side throughout her illness. Cathy also had a well-known passion for QVC and Amazon shopping. In fact, it became something of a neighborhood spectacle when multiple delivery trucks lined up outside her house, their drivers greeting her by name as if they were family members themselves. If there were frequent shopper awards, Cathy would have been in the Hall of Fame.

Cathy was preceded in death by her father, Robert Wallace; her beloved stepfather, Robert Briggs; her mother, Sara Briggs; and her cherished brother, Terry Briggs.

She is lovingly remembered by her devoted husband, Steve Dickerson of Danville; her siblings, Sandy Fawley of Indianola, Pamela New of Fairmount, and Danny Sinclair of Knoxville, Tennessee; her son, Kelly Harvey and his cherished wife Aida Harvey of Danville; daughters, Kim List of Catlin, Karol Parson of Danville, and Sarah Parsons of Danville; and her beloved stepson, Charles Dickerson of Greencastle, Indiana.

Cathy was a proud and adoring grandmother to Piper Harvey, Cathy Harvey, Naihomy Garcia, Vanessa Garcia, Edwin Garcia, Tyler Price, Jordan Finn, Nicholas Parsons, Zachary Parsons, Samantha Hough, Kara Mosier, and Matthew Kiger. She also leaves behind many treasured nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless friends whose love and companionship brought her immense joy throughout her life.

Per Cathy’s wishes, an informal celebration of her life will be held at a later date, where family and friends can gather to share memories and honor her legacy. For those who wish to leave expressions or memories, the family has created a memorial Facebook page in her honor at: https://facebook.com/cathy.sinclair.98

Condolences for the family may also be left on Cathy's page on our website by scrolling down to the Tribute Wall. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cathy Arlene Sinclair, please visit our floral store.