Catherine (Kate) Bozek
September 22, 1949 — June 22, 2025
Catherine “Kate” Kelly Bozek was born on September 22, 1949, and passed away June 22, 2025. She was born to Thomas and Nell Kelly at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.
A rosary and visitation for family and friends will be held at Grace Memorial Chapel in Ponca City, Oklahoma on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 6:00 pm. Mass of Christian burial will be held on July 3, 2025, at 10:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ponca City, Oklahoma with Father Alex Kroll as the celebrant. Burial will follow at a later date.
Kate attended grades one through eight at St. John the Evangelist in Detroit, Michigan and attended Mercy High School in Farmington, Michigan and St. Stanislaus High School in Detroit, Michigan graduating in 1967. While in high school Kate enjoyed playing softball and basketball with the Catholic Youth Organization. After high school she attended Mercy School of Practical Nursing in Cadillac, Michigan and began a 40 plus year career in nursing with her first job being at Mercy Hospital in Grayling, Michigan.
Kate relocated to California and married Albert Turner. The couple moved to Oklahoma and lived in the Stringtown area. They were blessed with three children, a son, Scott, a daughter, Erin, and a final son, Casey. While living in the Stringtown area Kate was active as a substitute teacher, substitute bus driver, and volunteered with the OSU Extension office as a 4H leader. Kate made many friends in the area with whom she remained close.
In 1987, Kate moved back to her hometown of Detroit to be near her father and sister. There she was reacquainted with an old family friend, Ronald Bozek, whom she married in 1988. Ron and Kate were blessed with a son, Kevin.
Kate was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Pickney, Michigan, volunteering as a religious education teacher, Eucharistic Minister, and lector. Kate was president of her homeowner’s association, too. She worked in her beloved nursing field as a school nurse, long term care nurse, floor nurse, charge nurse, MDS and infection control, and nursing home administrator. Ron passed in 2009, and Kate and Kevin moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma in 2012 to be closer to her other children. Kate was once again an active parishioner at St. Mary’s Catholic Church as a lector, St Francis of Assisi guild member, RCIA sponsor, and Eucharistic Minister. Kate was also involved with the American Legion Auxiliary serving two terms as president. Most recently she was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary and the Ponca City Veteran’s Day Parade Committee serving as treasurer for nine years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Nell, her sister, Mary Kelly, Ph. D. R.S.M., and her husbands, Ron and Albert. She is survived by her children: Scott Turner and wife Chastity of Wichita Falls, Texas, Erin Storm of Ponca City, Oklahoma, Casey Turner and wife Heather of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and son, Kevin Bozek of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and her cousin, Shelia Millen with whom she remined close as well as other Canadian relatives. Her grandchildren, Bobby Giles, Jr. and wife Bailey, DelieAnne Giles and fiancé Kyle Warden, Garrett Giles, Michaela Lee and Carli Lee. Kate was blessed with great grandchildren, Brantley, Emmery, Kinley, Bodie, Sophia, Adrian and Marleigh.
Thos wishing to do so can make a memorial contribution in her name to The Opportunity Center in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
Kate lived a life of service to others as a daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, nurse, faithful catholic, volunteer, and as a friend who enjoyed good conversation, a smooth dance partner, and a cold glass of beer or wine.
Sirach 6, 14-17 best describes Kate.
A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. A faithful friend is a life saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; for he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself.
