Catherine Elizabeth Barrett

Resident of Bellingham Catherine Barrett of Bellingham died early Sunday, March 23, after a brief illness at St. Joseph Hospital, with family members by her side. She was five weeks shy of her 90th birthday. Cathy, also known as Cayti, lived a full, rich, interesting and caring life. She and her husband of 66 years, Eldon, who died in 2009, reared four children in the Seattles East Green Lake District before retiring to Bellingham in 1980. Born in Olympia April 29, 1924, she was the oldest of three children of Dorothy N. and Ellis C. Ayer. She graduated from Olympia High School, attended a year at the University of Washington, and married Eldon in May 1943. Her first child, Michael, was born in Olympia in 1944. They moved to Salem, Ore., where Eldon started his long career as a journalist with United Press. Susan was born there in 1947. Patricia came along in 1949 as they were moving to Seattle, followed by Rebecca two years later. Catherine worked for a number of years at the Sears store in Seattles Roosevelt District doing everything from sales clerking to answering phones. She was an inveterate knitter for family, friends and charity, and even taught knitting classes for a time professionally. Among her favorite passions was travel, and she did so extensively. From an early age, she explored the West by car with her family. With Eldon, she visited much of Canada, Mexico and Guatemala; spent time on the East Coast and in the South; and traveled to most countries of Europe as far away as Greece and Turkey. She also went to Asia with her cousin and particularly enjoyed occasional trips to Great Britain to explore her roots and visit family members there. Another more recent hobby was Facebook, and she was adept at using the computer on a daily basis to follow the many exploits of family members and friends. She continued to knit, read and care for her beloved cat until the end of her life. Surviving are her four children, Michael (Rilla), Susan E., Patt (Neil) Jorgensen and Rebecca (Marvin) Waschke; four grandchildren Ross (Katie) and Andrew (Laura) Jorgensen, Athena and Paul (Lanni) Waschke; great-grandchildren Christopher, Matthew and Dario Eldon Waschke; brothers Robert (Mona) and Charles (Susan) Ayer; three step-grandchildren, Aaron and Gabriel Wilson and Hilary Knight; step-great-grandchildren Finley, Kaycie and Emmett; and numerous nieces and nephews in Washington, Oregon, California and Colorado. Farewell Tribute Information At her request, there will be no service. The family plans to host a memorial at a later date and requests that contributions in her name be made to a hospice of choice.

Catherine Elizabeth Barrett

April 29, 1924 - March 23, 2014