Cathy Lynn Red Elk

Cathy Lynn Red Elk, born January 9th, 1958 in Walters, Oklahoma, died April 27th, 2023 in Oklahoma City. Daughter of Paul (1927-1999) and Wanda (1921-2014) Bridges. Survived by son Jacob Red Elk, daughter Jenny Farley, sister Carol Hamilton and sister Paula Bridges Sampleton.

Cathy was a registered nurse for most of her life, dedicating her time to caring for people. She moved to Chicago at a young age and met Jenny, a friend she kept close until Jennys passing. While in Chicago Cathy met Pat Farley who became her first husband who fathered her firstborn daughter Jenny. Pat and Cathy later divorced, and Cathy moved back to Oklahoma where she met her 2nd husband Clifford Red Elk.

A little later in life Cathy made the move Amarillo to live with carol, her older sister and that’s where she would become mother to Jacob and wife to Clifford. Cathy later moved to Pensacola Florida and continued raising Jacob, spending the majority of her life there until moving back to Oklahoma to live out out the last few months of her life.

Cathy was a fan of music, never missing an opportunity to dance to Bob Segers “Night Moves” or “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” by CCR or anything by Stevie Ray Vaughan. She attended many concerts in her younger years including Led Zeppelin, Ted Nugent, Black Sabboth. Cathy’s love of music could only be surpassed by her love for her animals. Her dearest companion was Boodles, who’s pictures in her photo, a small white terrier poodle mix that was her pride and joy. Although Boodles was considered closest to her heart Cathy always had a gang of animal companions she loved and cared for.

In the last years of her life as her health declined, Cathy moved in with her older sister Carol who would later become her main caretaker. Cathy lived with her sister for 10 years before her health took a turn for the worst. The decision was made for her son Jacob to escort Cathy back to Oklahoma where she would then live with him, his wife and their young daughter. Cathy lived for 3 months with her son and his family before needing to be hospitalized. The unofficial diagnosis of her ailments were assumed to be the symptoms of late stage dementia. Although at the very end of her life Cathy had lost the ability to communicate, her family knew that she would not of wanted her life prolonged if its quality would be diminished. Cathy passed away peacefully in her sleep, accompanied by a loving nursing staff as if to repay her for the love she shared with her own patients during her career.

Cathy will be dearly missed and loved always by many.