Obituary of Catherine Louise Sidmore

We are sad to announce the death of Catherine Louise Sidmore, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend and neighbor. Cathie passed away unexpectedly in her home in Auburn, WA at the age of 70, on April 20th, 2023. In recent years, she had been battling COPD and heart disease and was a proud 20-year breast cancer survivor.

Cathie was born on July 13, 1952, to Harold and LaVona Geist in Fort Collins, CO. After Cathie graduated from Brush High School in 1970, she married James Dale Sidmore in 1973 and they made their home in Gig Harbor, WA. Cathie and Jim had three children, Michelle, Bonita and Jacob.

A stay-at-home mom until 1985, Cathie then joined a certificate program at Clover Park Technical College in order to learn a skilled trade in the grocery business. Her coworkers at Piggly Wiggly and multiple QFC grocery stores called her “Sid” and valued her as both a friend and an extremely hard and dedicated worker who cared deeply about her teammates and doing the right thing. She retired from the Kroger Company in 2015 after a long and successful 30-year grocery management career.

Cathie is most remembered for her strength, independence, her huge heart, beautiful smile, adventurous spirit and her love for her kids and grandchildren. A few of Cathie’s favorite things were the color purple, time outdoors, roses, hummingbirds, time with her grandkids, watching Seahawks and Broncos football, and taking care of and making others happy.

She often went on spontaneous road trip adventures with her kids and friends and took nature photographs of eagles, trees, flowers, water, and mountains along the way. After retiring she took up tole painting. She was an extremely talented artist and showed her love of decorating for Christmas by painting countless designs with a Christmas theme to give as gifts and to display in her home year-round. In her retirement, Cathie moved into the Hillside Estates 55+ community and found a group of neighbors she considered to be great friends and extended family. She spent time chatting and having coffee with neighbors and enjoyed a weekly game night playing board games, cards, and winning at pinochle.

Cathie was predeceased by her husband James Dale Sidmore and her father Harold LeRoy Geist. She is survived by her mother LaVona Geist Ruark, brother Barry Geist (Lynda), sisters Aline Kennedy (Thomas), Sue Lednicky (Timothy), Diane Geist; daughters Michelle Murphy (Jeff), Bonita Brend (Nathan), son Jacob Sidmore (Melissa) and her six grandchildren, grandson Ryan, and grandaughter Miah (Michelle), granddaughters Angelyn and Samantha (Jacob), granddaughters Benna and Eleanor (Bonita) and two great grandchildren, great granddaughter Rozalea and great grandson Bakari (Miah).

A memorial service will be held at the Auburn Senior Activity Center on Saturday June 3rd, 2023, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Susan G. Komen for Breast Cancer Research, a cause Cathie felt strongly about.