Student Council, National Honor Society, Span. H.S., R.H.G.C., Junior Usher, Eaglette, Cheerleader, died March 8, 2007.

CATHERINE ANITA AKIN AWALT Advocate for Collin County kids : Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice

Dallas Morning News, The (TX) - Monday, March 12, 2007

Deceased Name: CATHERINE ANITA AKIN AWALT Advocate for Collin County kids

Catherine Anita Akin "Cathi" Awalt was a fourth-generation attorney who devoted much of her adult life to children, working in the courts, raising her family and helping neglected Collin County young people.

She became a grant writer for the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center shortly after receiving a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2002. Ms. Awalt brought in $300,000 to $400,000 a year, up to 20 percent of the organization's annual budget, through her grant writing.

Ms. Awalt had battled a succession of cancers that began with ovarian cancer. She died Thursday at Medical Center of Plano at age 55.

Ms. Awalt graciously battled the cancer while supporting the Children's Advocacy Center, said her brother Matt Akin of Plano.

"She was pretty much on chemo for the entire time and with an attitude like nobody you've never seen or heard about," Mr. Akin said. "One day in the hospital she looked at me and said, 'I'm grumpy' - and that's the only way you could tell. ... That's as bad as it ever got."

Dynamic and effervescent, Ms. Awalt enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, baseball and the State Fair of Texas.

Born in Dallas, she was the granddaughter of Henry D. Akin, a partner in the law firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP. Her father was Henry Akin Jr. Both men died in 2000.

Ms. Awalt was a graduate of Richardson High School and received her undergraduate and law degrees from Southern Methodist University, her brother said.

She practiced law with her father and became known statewide for her knowledge of public education law, Mr. Akin said. The father-daughter team represented the Richardson and Plano school districts on desegregation issues, he said.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Spring Valley United Methodist Church in Dallas.

In addition to her brother, Ms. Awalt is survived by her husband, Charles Awalt of Plano; a daughter, Sarah Awalt of Plano; two sons, Travis Awalt of Plano and Stewart Awalt of Dallas; her mother, Mary Ella Akin of Dallas; two other brothers, David Akin of Dallas and John Akin of Fredericksburg, Texas; a sister, Mary Akin of Hollywood, Fla.; and two grandchildren.

Monetary or volunteer hour memorials may be made to the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center.

PHOTO(S): (FILE 2006/Staff photo) Cathi Awalt raised $300,000 to $400,000 a year for the Collin County Children's Advocacy Center through her grant writing. She had battled cancer since 2002, always with a positive attitude, her brother said.Author: JOE SIMNACHER
Edition: FIRST
Page: 4B
(c) Copyright, 2007, The Dallas Morning News