Catherine C. Overkamp, Longtime Utah Resident, Passes Away at 86

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Catherine Claire Overkamp, a longtime resident of Hurricane, Utah, passed away on March 1, 2026 at the age of 86 at St. George Regional Hospital. Overkamp was born in Kearny, New Jersey and had a career as a teacher before co-owning a Christmas ornament store with her husband in coastal Maine. After retiring, the couple moved to Utah where they were active in their local church choir.

Why it matters

Overkamp's passing marks the end of an era for a couple who built a successful small business and then transitioned to an active retirement in Utah, where they were involved in their local community. Her life story reflects broader trends of Americans retiring to the Southwest and staying active in their later years.

The details

Overkamp was born in 1940 to Clara Bell and Nicholas Anthony Baker of Bloomfield, New Jersey. She earned a BA in teaching from Hope College in Michigan and a master's in education from the University of Connecticut. She and her husband Frederick William Overkamp were both teachers before opening Christmas Magic, a retail gift store in coastal Maine specializing in Christmas ornaments. After retiring, the couple moved to Hurricane, Utah, where they were active in their local church choir.

• Overkamp was born on January 21, 1940.
• Overkamp passed away on March 1, 2026 at the age of 86.
• A memorial service for Overkamp will be held on March 8, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in St. George, Utah.