As I mentioned in my post last week, Cactuskate’s sister has been in touch with me and has given me some information about her to use for a Chronicle obituary.
Since most of us did not “know” Kathy very well, I thought it would be nice to share some of the info, with her sister’s blessing. I have pictures, too! 
Ad update: we have $1800, and checks are still coming. 
Kathy’s sister says that, for donations, for now, they’re asking that they be sent to the Hospice of Yuma. (So that will be one option for our charitable contribution.)
Kathy’s husband and another close friend are working on setting up a memorial fund for riders. According to Kathy’s sister, “They would like to designate a perpetual award to be given at a dressage event. They are talking about having the winner receive some sort of award that would enable them to receive training for a designated time.” Details are still being worked out.
I’m going to paste in the emails below… sorry for the funky formatting.
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
Dear Erin & fellow COTH members,
I am so overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern, kindness and support
you’ve all shown my sister, Cactuskate, AKA Kathy. She has been
blessed to
know each one of you and I know she found comfort in your thoughts and
prayers.
I want to say that Kathy was the best role model a little sister could
have.
Her high standards and level of integrity made her a tough act to
follow,
but one to certainly strive to emmulate.
She has done so much for so many people. Always willing to offer a
hand.
And, now, even in her passing, she continues to touch others with her
inspirational battle with cancer. She fought a good fight and lived
her
life to the very end. She could barely move her last day without
needing to
rest, yet when she finally conceeded to moving into a hospital bed at
home
(We knew she’d be more comfortable, but she “didn’t want it to look
like a
sick person lived here”.), she INSISTED on getting into the bed on her
own…AND SHE DID. It took every ounce of her strength, but she did
it!!
I find comfort, and hope you all will also, in knowing that she never
felt
any pain and went so peacefully. I’m so thankful to have been with
her.
I’m also so thankful she was part of such a wonderful group of horse
lovers.
(I am one also…there’s nothing like the smell of horse poop and
leather!
)
Let me end with a phrase that Kathy said about 18 years ago. We were
both
active riders and she had won a hunter class at a local schooling show
in
Eugene, OR (where??). Someone from our barn was all excited for her,
but
she quickly put it all in perspective as to her high standards and what
she
determined to be an accomplishment. She said this is nice, but…“I’d
rather be the bottom of the top, than the cream of the crap!”
Thank you once again for your kindness. Kathy, Cactuskate, will be
missed
so much. But we know she’s up there riding the perfect horse.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Another email:
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
Here is som bio information on Kathy:
Born 9/5/50 in Corvallis, OR
Graduated from Lake Oswego High School - 1968
Moved to Eugene to attend University of Oregon
While in Eugene, she also developed a line of luggage for tack for
people to
use to travel to horse shows. It was called “Equitogs”. She made
custom
boot bags, saddle covers, etc.
She was an expert seamstress. People would comment on how her clothes
didn’t look homemade and her response was, “Well of course not, that’s
the
point, I don’t WANT them to look homemade!!”
Horses, of course, were her passion. She rode hunters - on the flat
and
over fences. And, for a brief time, early in her horse “career”, she
did
show a horse Western…It was only a brief lapse in judgment…hee
hee…but
in retrospect, I believe it was an irresistable opportunity to get her
hands
on a nice horse. By the way, she won lots of classes on that horse.
She was an accomplished golfer. It was merely a substitute for her
true
obsession…HORSES, but she still excelled at it.
She also enjoyed trap and skeet shooting…and excelled at that as
well.
Basically, whatever Kathy decided to try, she did it wholeheartedly,
with
style and became accomplished at it. She was quite honestly (and
without
sisterly prejudice on my part) good at anything she attempted. She
held
very high standards for herself and most others.
Judy
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
Here are a couple of pix. One is Kathy and Gary on their wedding day
in the
limo. The other is Kathy blowing out her birthday candles on her 18th
birthday. She loved birthday parties and always insisted on having the
hats
and “blowies”.
Judy
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
grrrrr, ok, gotta play around alittle.
I think there are probably a few straggler checks still coming, but that’s the general ballpark of what the grand total will be.