Catherine Lou Brubaker Proffitt

Catherine Lou Brubaker Proffitt

Beloved Wife, Mother, Singer, and Inspiring Teacher, Director and Mentor

Born: July 28, 1929 Died: June 5, 2026

Kathy (as she liked to spell it) led an enchanted life! Born the 11th of 12 children to Alva and Genevra Brubaker in Glenrock, WY, she was raised on a dairy farm. Kathy, (who also went by the nickname “Chickie”) loved animals, and barrel-raced horses in local rodeos. She learned to play piano by ear and sang “all the time” growing up. Her natural talent and exuberant singing brought her to the attention of Courtney Proffitt, a renowned opera singer and vocal coach in Casper, WY. Mrs. Proffitt brought Kathy on as a student, while in her teens, honing her natural talent into professional aptitude. After graduating from Glenrock High School at the age of 17, Kathy was accepted at the San Francisco Opera Company and continued to grow her talent and love of music. She maintained her connection with the Proffitts, and developed a strong bond with their son, James V. Proffitt Jr., who was in the U.S. Airforce during the Korean Conflict. James would take his leaves visiting San Francisco, and they fell in love.

After the conflict, they married in Alabama, where James was stationed at Maxwell AFB. James soon left the service and joined TRW as an aeronautical engineer. This led to them moving to San Diego, CA. Kathy joined the Starlight Opera Company there, and they began raising their three children. There was a lot of moving around the Western USA during the next 10 years, and the family finally landed in Redlands, CA, where Kathy participated in the choir at Trinity Episcopal Church as a featured performer. She also performed as a soloist at local events, the Redlands Bowl, and toured with other performers around the U.S. in various musical productions. For the 60’s and 70’s (and beyond) Kathy always kept active as a performer, had her own vocal studio, and helped promote the arts to the community.

In the 1980’s, Kathy and James moved to Laredo, TX. Kathy taught Voice at Laredo Community College and developed their new Musical Theater program. She directed The Music Man, South Pacific, Mame, and other musical favorites for the theater, while still maintaining her own vocal studio for private students. She truly made a difference in their lives, helping them to get musical scholarships – with one student who joined the Metropolitan Opera Company in NYC, and another student became a vocal coach on the popular TV show, “The Voice”. Kathy also directed the choir at Christ Church Episcopal in Laredo and continued to perform at weddings and other local events.

Kathy is survived by her three children: Courtney Proffitt of Tempe, AZ, Cathy Proffitt-Allison and her husband, Kevin Allison, of Burleson, TX and James V. Proffitt III and his wife Wendi (Winder) of Los Osos and Redlands, CA. She is also survived by her 5 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.

Kathy will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, James V. Proffitt Jr. in the Laredo City Cemetery.