Catherine Sturdevant

Catherine Sturdevant was born in 1950, in Centralia, WA, to John and Ione Frye. She graduated from Centralia High School, received her Bachelors of Education from Pacific Lutheran University, and later in her teaching career, a Masters Degree from Lesley University.

After graduating from college, Catherine married her long time “steady”, Steven Sturdevant; together they established their residence in Olympia. Shortly after locating to their new home in southeast county, Catherine and Steven welcomed their daughter Sara and son James. They added a tennis court to the west lawn and began a long commitment to their children's tennis careers.

Catherine served her entire 30 years of teaching in the North Thurston Public School district with positions at Mountain View Elementary, Woodland Elementary and Horizons Elementary. For most of her teaching career, Catherine was employed as an elementary visual art specialist. She persevered the “art-on-a-cart” years, later helping design the art room for the new Horizons Elementary.

Following Steven’s love of golf, the couple traveled to Scotland to enjoy the historic courses and countryside.

Along with her sister Sharon, Catherine was a collector of antiques, particularly early American glass. Both sisters had photos published in books as examples of specific styles of the genre.

When they had both retired, Catherine and Steven hit the road in their RV, visiting numerous locations in the western states. Their favorites were Arizona, Nevada and the Oregon and California coasts. They were married for 45 years!

Catherine is survived by her son James; grandchildren Victoria, Caden and Wyatt; sister Mary; sister-in-law Lori (Bill), brothers-in-law Bill, Ken and Dale (Annette); cousins Mark, Karen and Vivian; and numerous nephews and nieces. She is pre-deceased by her parents, husband Steven, sister Sharon and daughter Sara.

Numerous long time family friends have been of tremendous support and comfort to Catherine these last few years: Carolyn, Dorothy, Becca, Ashley and Brian, Steve and Jodi, Christine and Ken, Cathy and Chris.

In lieu of flowers, Catherine would be very honored if donations or memorials were made to the medical fund for Catherine’s five year old great-nephew Noah Markstrom. https://www.gofundme.com/noah-markstrom