Katharine E. Norrell, 75, of Carlisle, died Thursday, August 4, 2011, at Carlisle Regional Medical Center. She was born on Sunday, March 1, 1936, in Carlisle, a daughter of the late Mervin I. Keck, Sr. and Bessie J. (Russell) Keck, and the widow of Robert A. Norrell, who died Nov. 8, 2002.

Katharine was a nurse's aide, and retired from Cumberland Crossings Retirement Community and had also worked at the Cumberland County Nursing Home for many years, both of Carlisle. She was a member of the Bloserville God's Missionary Church, and, she enjoyed oil painting, fishing and playing computer games.

She is survived by two sons; William B. (and his wife, Abigail) Smyser of Shippensburg and Franklin "Frank" H., III (and his wife, Lisa) Smyser of Carlisle, two daughters; Valerie S. (and her husband, Mike) Clark of Carlisle and Sheila R. Tribbitt of Felton, Delaware, one brother, Richard E. Keck of Carlisle, five sisters; Eleanor Karper, Carlisle, Doris Smyser, Carlisle, Peggy Bloser, Newville, Barbara Sengbusch, Lakeland, FL and Helen Speed of Polk City, FL, three foster children; Charlotte Fisher and David Farner, both of Newville and Richard Farner of Harrisburg, 9 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by brothers; Roland Keck and Mervin Keck, Jr. and one granddaughter, Melody Smyser.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9, 2011, in the Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, 630 S. Hanover St., Carlisle, with Pastor Ken Gordon officiating. Burial will be in Westminster Memorial Gardens, Carlisle. Viewing will be on Monday from 6 - 8:00 p.m at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bloserville God's Missionary Church, 10 Baughman Drive, Newville, PA 17241.