Marcella Cate

"... She is beautiful, softened at the edges and tempered with a spine of steel. I want to grow old and be like her." ? Jodi Picoult Marcella Cate, a 45 year Wenatchee resident, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, March 17, 2012. She was born to Fred and Mary (Masterson) Leland at Twin Falls, Idaho on October 29th, 1934. Her family made several moves around the country before the family settled in Chelan in the late 1940's. She graduated from Chelan High School in 1954 and moved to Seattle with a friend shortly after, where she worked at Boeing in missile development. She met and married Jack Nystrom in 1955 and settled in Renton, where they started their family of five kids; Jack Jr., Chris, Michael, Janet and Lisa, where they resided through Michael's passing in 1962 and until Jack Sr's passing in early 1964. Later that year, Marcella moved her and her children to Wenatchee, where they made a permanent home. In 1971, she met and married Terry Cate. In the following months, they discovered they were going to be parents to another son; Randee. She spent the next several years as a devoted, full-time mom. Marcella went to work at Pangborn Airport in the mid-1980's and became the head of Airport Security. She retired in 2002 after 15 years at the airport. For the last 6 years, she made her home at Blossom Valley Assisted Living in Wenatchee. She is survived by five children, Jack Nystrom Jr., Chris (Kathy) Nystrom, Janet Billingsley, Lisa Worley, Randee (Melissa) Cate, all residing in the Wenatchee Valley ; sister, Ellen Twining, Liberty Lake , WA and brother, Daniel Leland, Seattle. Grandma Marcella especially loved her 11 grandchildren - Jackson, Brook, Nathan, Jessica, Kye, Cole, Cameron, Ian, Olivia, Zac, and Abby - and 7 great-grandchildren - Grace, Levi, Lola, Pierce, Mylitia, Dominic, Lyric and Cylas. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jack Nystrom Sr., her son, Michael Nystrom, and three sisters - Pat Leland, Mary Snow, and Margaret Dohse. The family would like to extend a special Thank You to the Caregivers and Med-aides at Blossom Valley Assisted Living for their care, support and friendship. A family gathering will be held at a later date. Online condolences and photos can me left and viewed at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.

Marcella Cate

October 27, 1934 - March 17, 2012