STEPLETON: Katherine C. (Chickering) , 86, of 6 Page St., Ayer, Mass., died unexpectedly, Monday, April 30, 2001, at Deaconess Nashoba Hospital in Ayer. Mrs. Stepleton was born in Danville, Jan. 23, 1915, a daughter of A. Carlton and Agnes (Dodge) Chickering, and had resided in Ayer for 50 years. She was a graduate of St. Johnsbury Academy in 1932, and the Mary Fletcher Hospital School of Nursing in Burlington in 1940. During World War II Mrs. Stepleton served her country as a registered nurse in the United States Army. While assigned to the Walter Reed General Hospital, she attained the rank of captain. She continued her nursing career at the former Cutler Army Hospital, Fort Devens, Mass., before retiring in 1984. She was a member of the Ayer Golden Agers and was an active member of the Loaves and Fishes Program. She is survived by a daughter, Denise M. Stepleton of Ayer; and two brothers, Leo Chickering of Naples, Fla., and Rolfe Chickering of Hinesburg, Vt. She was the mother of the late Diane M. Stepleton of Ayer, who died in December 2000, and the sister of the late Carlton Chickering of Danbury, Conn., and Kenneth Chickering of Hardwick. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the T.J. Anderson & Son Funeral Home, 46 Washington St., Ayer, Mass. There are no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to Loaves and Fishes, in care of the Federated Church, 21 Washington St., Ayer, MA 01432, or the Ayer Ambulance Fund, in care of the Ayer Fire Department, Combination 1, 14 Washington St., Ayer, MA 01432.