Catharine (Cathy) Peters Obituary (1940 - 2024)

Catharine (Cathy) Peters age 84 died on the 24th of October 2024 in Tacoma, WA. Cathy was born April 21 1940 to Robert (Bob) and Margaret Gibson of Twisp, WA. Cathy grew up in Twisp where she developed a love of books and the alpine flowers of the North Cascades. She went to college at Washington State University, where she studied floriculture under Woody Kalin. She found time while being a good student to meet Charles (Chuck) Peters, who she married in 1962. They had two children Christopher (Chris) and Cynthia. In 1966 she moved to Wapato with Chuck to run the family orchard. Cathy was a passionate gardener and a lifelong advocate of education. Her home was like a jungle. The smells of coffee, fresh cookies, and potting soil getting heat sterilized was not uncommon in her house. Cathy's horticultural skills constantly improved Chuck's orchard. Cathy was a host mother and mentor to 26 horticultural interns from New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Michigan, New York, Holland, France, Spain, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Poland, and Germany. She was a skier who liked a little hot chocolate with her coffee at White Pass and Sun Valley. She was very active in “The WSU Master Gardener Program.” She helped to put the library together at the Yakima Arboretum. She worked at the USDA/ARS lab on Konnowac Pass. Her work there involved the development of rose gardens for the biological control of Pandemis Leaf Rollers. Cathy is survived by her husband Chuck, her children Chris Peters and Cynthia Kimel (Metiner), her grandchildren Max Peters, Elsa Peters, Ava Kimel, and Zak Kimel. There will be a celebration of her life on November 9, 2024 at 1pm at The Yakima Valley Arboretum. Memorials should be made to the Washington Apple Education Foundation.