Obituary
Catherine was born on May12, 1928 in St. Augustine, Florida, she passed away peacefully on July 16, 2024, at Advent Health New Smyrna Hospital.
Catherine was born to Hazel Smith and Lewis Pierce. Catherine at an early age went to live with Judge Timothy Blake and his wife, of Hillard, Florida where she lived for twenty-eight years. As a teenager, she opened her heart to Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Hillard. She graduated from Hillard High School where she excelled on the women’s basketball team. Upon graduation, she married Billy Grooms, also of Hillard, and after 10 years living in Hillard and having 4 children, they moved to the Daytona Beach area. For the next sixty plus years, Catherine spent the remainder of her life in the Daytona/New Smyrna area.
During Catherine’s life, she enjoyed the friendships associated with automobile racing families both here in Daytona and Indianapolis. She was a passionate fan of all types of auto racing from Stock Cars to Sprint Cars, to Midgets. Catherine enjoyed traveling. Catherine visited all 50 States of America as well as other Countries outside the U.S. across ponds and oceans.
Catherine is survived by her daughter, Toni Grooms-Grenier (Mark) of Edgewater, FL, her son, Tim Grooms, of Princeville, Kawaui, her son Ken Grooms of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and her son Robert Grooms (Nancy) of New Smyrna Beach, FL . She was blessed with 8 Grandchildren and 12 Great Grand Children.
Arrangements are with Baldwin Brothers Funeral &Cremation at 1 N. Causeway, New Smyrna Beach, FL. 32169. A Celebration of Catherine’s Life will be planned in the near future for family & friends. Contact a family member for details.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Catherine’s name to St. Jude’s Children Hospital or Veterans of America, both of these organizations were close to Catherine’s heart.
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