Catherine Pearl Wade (née Lee) died peacefully on Sept. 25, 2015, in Everett, Washington, after a short illness. She was 90.

Cathy, a longtime resident of Oak Harbor, was born on a farm in Boone County, Iowa, to Pauline Westberg Lee and Carl Seval Torgersan Lee. Siblings Myrtle, Chester, and Ronald completed the family. They later moved to Ames, Iowa.

After graduating from Jordan Consolidated School in 1942 in Jordan, Iowa, Cathy attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa, where she trained to be a stenographer.

Later, while working at Iowa State University in the Botany Department, Cathy met William (Bill) Wade, an engineering student. They married and had four children: Alan, Diana (Diane), Patricia (Patti), and William (Bill). Alan died in an accident at two years old, and Bill, a Navy pilot, perished in a plane crash May 10, 1959, at NAS Whidbey.

Cathy elected to stay in Oak Harbor, Washington, to raise her remaining three children. When Bill, the youngest, started school in 1961, she became a librarian at the Oak Harbor Library. Eventually she was promoted to head librarian; at a later date, she became the supervising librarian for Island County, retiring in 1993.

Cathy instilled the love of reading in not only her own children, but also in many Oak Harbor residents. Known as a kind and gracious woman, Cathy will be sorely missed by the Oak Harbor community. She was an active member of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church, which she faithfully attended until she could no longer drive. In addition, she was a member of Friends of the Oak Harbor Library and the League of Women Voters.

Her children are especially grateful to her for being such an inspiring role model for them, instilling the love of reading and the arts, as well as forging and keeping close bonds throughout the years with both their maternal and paternal relatives. They have traveled extensively to and with both sides of the families and feel blessed to have such strong familial ties.

Cathy is survived by her daughter, Diana Rice, son-in-law, Kevin, and their son, David; daughter, Patricia (Patti) Wade; son, William (Bill) Wade and his partner, RK Lee; brother, Ronald S. Lee, and his wife, Jean Hanson Lee; nine nieces and nephews, spouses, and their children.

Carl, Pauline, Myrtle, and Chester all preceded her in death, as well as her husband, Bill, and son, Alan, as mentioned above.

An interment and service was held at Golden Gate Cemetery in San Bruno, Calif., on Oct. 9, 2015, where she was laid to rest with her husband, Bill, and son, Alan. In addition, a memorial reception is planned for Nov. 28, 2015, from 1-3 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church, 1253 NW 2nd Ave, Oak Harbor, WA. All friends and family of Cathy are welcome to attend. Donations can be made in Cathy’s name to The Arthritis Foundation at P.O. Box 932915, Atlanta, GA 3193-2915 or www.arthritis.org/hope