Lorraine Cattanach

Longtime Grants Pass resident, Lorraine Cattanach, age 96, died on December 29, 2011, at her home with her daughters at her side.

A memorial/celebration of her life will be held, Saturday January 28th, 2pm at the Jerome Prairie Neighbors Community Club, 5368 Redwood Ave. Bring your memories of her to share. (Any of her 1st graders still out there?)

Lorraine was born October 5, 1915, near Saco, Montana to Charles and Anna Marie Stuff. She graduated from Saco High School, then had a year of college at Havre, Montana with the goal of becoming a school teacher. In June of 1935 she married Alexander Cattanach, who died in 1985. They moved to Oregon in 1942 where she continued to persue her education through correspondence courses, night classes and summer school. She graduated from So. Or. College in 1962 with her B.S. in Primary Education. She began teaching with an emergency certificate in the Josephine County School District in 1953, teaching 1st grade. She taught 1yr. at Kerby, 1yr. at Fruitdale and the next 21yrs. at Jerome Prairie. She loved her 1st graders!

When she wasn't teaching and after retirement, she loved cooking (she made bread the old fashion way all her life) gardening, reading, doing crossword puzzles, playing Bunco with her lady friends that she'd known for years and traveling of any kind. She especially loved family reunions with her siblings, all their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, any and all who could attend. There was always good food, music, jokes and storytelling and much love and laughter.

She is survived by her daughters, Arlene Sowell of Medford, Merrilyn McGloin of Grants Pass, Karen Johnson (Dennis) of Vancouver, WA. and Sena Musgrave of Grants Pass (whom she referred to as her adopted daughter), 5 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces, nephews and extended family.

In addition to her husband she was preceded in death by her parents, all 7 of her siblings and a granddaughter, Lisa Sowell.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in her name to one of the following: Josephine County Library, Rogue Valley Humane Society, Josephine County Animal Shelter or Wildlife Images.