Christine Caruthers, of Orange, died Sunday, March 24, 2013, at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont.

Memorial Service will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 28, 2013, at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Orange with Reverend R. Gary Caruthers. Cremation will be under the direction of Claybar Haven of Rest Crematory.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home.

Born in Brooklyn, New York on July 9, 1940, Chris was the daughter of Karl and Christine "Tini" Spreng Zettel. She graduated in 1958 from Catherine McAuley High School and then started work with Home Insurance Company. Chris worked for Goldman Sachs on Wall Street and then later moved to Memphis, Tennessee to help open a new branch office. On September 5, 1969, she married her husband, P. Reid Caruthers. After one year of marriage, they moved to Newark, Delaware and then transferred to Chicago where Reid was in sales. While there, Ryan and Tara were born. Three years later, they moved to Orange.

Chris loved travelling, especially Hawaii, New York City, Bavaria and many small Texas towns and their cafes. She enjoyed the theatre, especially musical theatre, stuffed bears and reading; but most of all she loved her family. Chris will be remembered for making friends anywhere she went, her giving heart and her love of keeping connected with her friends through email and cards.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Karl G. Zettel; plus other relatives in the United States, Germany and Austria.

Chris is survived by her husband of 43 years, P. Reid Caruthers; son, J. Ryan Caruthers; daughter, Tara Caruthers; grandchildren, Mary and Robbie Caruthers and their mother, Liza; and many cousins in Germany and Austria.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to PIME Foster Parents, Adoptions at a Distance, 17330 Quincy Street, Detroit, Michigan 48221-2765.