Kathleen F. Tokar

Kathleen F. Tokar (nee Heck) known to all as Kathy, passed away on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 in Frederick, Maryland after a courageous battle with Lymphoma complicated fatally by Covid-19. Kathy was born in the Bethesda Naval Hospital, Montgomery Co. Maryland on November 9, 1952, the daughter of the late Frances and the late Frederick Heck. The Heck family moved to Frederick in 1960, when Kathy’s father, Frederick was transferred from employment in the Pentagon to open the East Coast Relay Station at Ft. Detrick. Kathy graduated from Frederick High School in 1970. In 1992, Kathy married the love of her life, Pete Tokar. She worked in various fields to provide for her growing family including retail sales, as a health insurance claims agent, a first- grade teacher’s aide and most recently as an interpreter for the Rose Hill Manor Museum. She was passionate about early American and British history, especially the history of Frederick. She and Pete were very active parishioners of St. John the Evangelist Church, Frederick where she volunteered as a religion teacher for many years. She studied over 114 hours of catechesis classes to earn the Advanced Catechist Certificate and was named Catechist of the Year in 2015. She served as a cantor and choir member as well. Ecclesiastical music was her favorite way to pray, but she also enjoyed many genres including sixties and seventies classic rock. She volunteered for ten years as a coordinator for the annual Candlelight Tour of the Historic Houses of Worship in downtown Frederick. She also loved Bible study, trivia games, reading and crossword puzzles. She was a fireworks afficionado. Whether they were held at Baker Park, the Keys Stadium or the Walkersville Fireman’s Carnival, she was there! She loved attending and competing in the Great Frederick Fair each year having won several award ribbons for her photography and baked goods. Her greatest achievement, however, was raising her four children. She loved spending time with family whether hosting holiday and family celebrations or summer bar-b-ques. If anyone left her events hungry; it was their fault. She was an excellent cook and as mentioned above, award-winning baker. She stretched her cooking repertoire by attempting new recipes. She loved family vacations and road trips. Her granddaughters loved participating in the multi-themed days affectionately known as “Camp Ma”. Kathy will be remembered for her terrific sense of humor. In addition to her surviving husband, her best friend and soul-mate, Pete, she is survived by her children; Jennifer Smalt of Middletown, MD., Brian Schlauch of Key West, FL., Lisa Bowman (Greg) of Frederick, MD. and Joshua Adams (Clara) of Knoxville, MD. She was thrilled by her granddaughters, Emily Smalt of Middletown, MD. Sydney Bowman and Samantha (Sammy) Bowman of Frederick, MD., Kathy is also survived by her sister Linda Seel (Ray Sword) of Martinsburg, WV. And Loretta Heck of Riverton, WY as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She loved visiting her in-laws of Emmitsburg, MD.; a family who warmly welcomed her as their own. She will be fondly missed by Becky and Chris LaQuay of Charlotte Hall, MD. She will be remembered by her son-in-law, Gary Smalt. Friends and relatives are invited to visit on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Keeney & Basford Funeral Homes, P.A. 106 E. Church St. Frederick, Maryland 21701. A funeral mass will be offered on Thursday, February 8, 2024 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 118 E. 2nd Street, Frederick, MD. 21701. Interment Resthaven Memorial Gardens, 9501 Catoctin Mtn. Hwy. Frederick. MD. 21701. A small reception will follow interment in the St. John Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in her memory be made to either the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, https://www.lls.org/ and/or St. John the Evangelist Church at https://stjohn-frederick.org/giving-opportunities/