Catherine Marie Huskey, 84, a resident of Hood River, passed away at a local care facility on Friday, July 25, 2008.

She was born on June 15, 1924, in The Dalles, Ore., during cherry harvest to Frank and Georgia May (Witherell) Mann. She was the youngest of 13 children and a twin.

Her family moved to California when she was a baby and then returned to Oregon as a small child after the death of her mother. Her father was a carpenter by trade, and the family lived in many small towns throughout the Northwest where her father did remodeling and worked on fruit ranches during harvest season.

Catherine married Gordon (Bud) Huskey in Vancouver, Wash., on April 13, 1951. They lived in Tieton, Wash., for a number of years. While in the Yakima Valley they were members of a bowling league, winning many friends and bowling trophies along the way.

In the mid-1970s Kate and Bud moved to Mosier, Ore. They were married for 40 years when Gordon passed away in 1991.

Kate worked in canneries and was a waitress in a number of restaurants for 30-plus years. She was a plain-spoken woman; she always let you know just what she was thinking, and you knew where you stood with her.

Throughout their years together, Kate and Bud enjoyed camping and fishing; Kate especially enjoyed camping because Bud would always do the cooking while out camping.

She enjoyed crafts and handwork, making lovely items until her rheumatoid arthritis no longer allowed her to work on them. She enjoyed putting together jig-saw puzzles, card games, and reading.

One of her favorite pastimes was watching sports on television. She tried not to miss any televised baseball games, and always watched the World Series. In fact, if she was out visiting she made it a point to get back in time for the games.

For the last several years Kate lived in the Hood River Care Center, enjoying the care and activities; and made many friends there. She especially enjoyed the bingo games, winning many prizes; and the annual excursion up the Columbia on the Sternwheeler. “It is wonderful to be out enjoying the fresh air and watching the scenery,” she would say.

Kate was the last surviving of 13 children: Maude, Edd Sam, Harriet, Lucy, Nellie, Henry, Bessie, Francis, Rosie (Delphine), Robert, Frank and her twin sister, Caroline.

She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones. She was a joy to know and will be missed.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 11 a.m. at the Mosier Grange. Private cremation held at The Dalles Win-Quatt Crematory with Spencer, Libby and Powell Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Mosier Senior Center in care of Herman Bagge, P.O. Box 557, Mosier, OR 97040.