Anne Rayner Cathey, 80, of Hood River died Sunday morning surrounded by her family. She was born in 1934 in Ross, CA, to Elizabeth Eddy & Max Rayner. She graduated from High School in Fresno, CA, and entered nursing school in San Francisco. She took a 'temporary' leave from nursing school to get married and have 6 children. 15 years later she resumed her education in Marin County and got her AA in Nursing at College of Marin. While attending College of Marin she won the Student Nurse of the Year award for the state of CA. She went on to get her Bachelor and Master degrees at UCSF. Her children remember days when she would be watching them at the beach, while working up in the dunes with pen and paper, cranking out her thesis for her degree.
Her lengthy career began as a hospital floor nurse and moved on to Administrative positions. She worked for the state of CA in Sacramento as Nurse Consultant, moved up to OR in 1983, worked in Wasco County, transferred to Multnomah Co. to work as Director of Maternal and Child Health and while there was instrumental in establishing clinics within high schools to provide access to health services for students (which was quite controversial and gave her political exposure). She then became Director of Hood River County Health Dept. until she retired in 2000.
As the strong matriarch for the family, there wasn't a challenge that she wouldn't take on. Her house was always the gathering place and hub for family events and celebrations. She loved quilting, traveling, and was an accomplished knitter.
Anne is survived by her husband, Richard Cathey, and her 6 children, 12 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. She will be missed by all.