Catherine A Jett

On Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, Cathie Jett passed away at the age of 67. She was a daughter, sister, aunt, and long-time friend for so many. Her family moved to Bremerton from the Midwest leaving behind the familiarity of life in Missouri to find new adventures. Cathie was preceded in death by her father Chuck and brother Steve. Cathie is survived by her mother Helen, sister Susan and brother Charles (Trudy) as well as countless nieces and nephews, cousins and other relatives, and a long list of friends. Even in her retirement she kept in touch with many of those friends through her Facebook site.

Cathie’s lifelong focus was on family. She treasured her siblings and was also a loving aunt to her nieces and nephews and their children She kept in contact with countless extended family and friends from coast to coast by phone, mail or social media. One of Cathie’s passions was her extensive research into her family heritage. She spent many hours collecting and recording documents so there would be a record that could be shared with relatives near and far. She was particularly interested in a distant relative who served in the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Northwest.

Cathie was determined and independent with a “can do”: attitude. She got a job as a Welder Helper in the shipyard then moved on to become a graduate apprentice as a Sheetmetal Mechanic. Her skills were appreciated and she took opportunities to move up in the nuclear planning office and then various Project Management positions. As she made her way in that industrial environment, she became a staunch advocate and outspoken voice for the “Women in Trades” organization starting as a plank owner in 1986 to ensure that women would find good paying work and opportunity in non-traditional roles.

Cathie generously ensured that those around her were recognized for their skills and achievements by submitting countless nominations for awards. She never touted her own achievements and recognition most notably a Women in Trades Plank Owner award in March 11, 2001 and an award recognizing her contributions to the shipyard presented Feb. 23, 2009 in Washington D.C.

Cathie was a talented photographer and captured the happy moments of the lives of others. Cathie also made wonderful posters of personally taken photos as a gift to lucky recipients. A wall photo gallery can be viewed at the Bremerton Foodline where she dedicated more than 25 years as a volunteer and a Board member. She was always there at the events that meant so much to those less fortunate, helping to collect and sort foods at food drives, talking to the volunteers that would come to help with holiday service and of course, capturing those precious visual images. She never missed a chance to thank those volunteers on behalf of the client/customers of the food bank.

Perhaps lesser known was Cathie’s role as the “Queen” of the Red Hat Club she started. We will not forget the fun of dressing in our finery and enjoying lunches, dinners and even a trip for hot-air ballooning with Cathie as she took photos of the fun.

Those Cathie has touched will carry forward her legacy of kindness and caring. We want to believe that when her time came, she grabbed her red hat and camera rising to the light to be welcomed in heaven as a new star in our sky, visible to all.

The family will hold a private service at a later date. They request memorial donations be made to the Bremerton Foodline.