Obituary of Catherine Landles

Cathy was born July 4, 1947 in North Bend, Oregon to Vicki & Jerome Hansen. She spent her early years in Coos Bay. After a brief family move to Portland, Cathy returned to Coos Bay when she was in the 8th grade. As an 8th grader standing in her driveway, Cathy spied a handsome young lad coming up the sidewalk carrying a giant Coca Cola sign. It was love at first sight. That lad soon became her boyfriend, and then seven years later her husband. Cathy gave birth to their daughter, Lisa, in 1969. Bill and Cathy were on their way to celebrating their 42nd anniversary this June. They were blessed with a love that spans decades of great joys together, plenty of laughter, as well as a few sorrows and tears. Cathy graduated from Marshfield High School in 1965, and then went on to the University of Oregon to get a degree in education in 1969. Cathy stayed home for several years to care for their daughter. She went to work teaching full-time when Lisa was in the second grade. She taught middle school at Cascade in the Bethel School District for many years before moving to Danebo Elementary. Cathy loved children, and found it both a joy and an honor to make a difference in the lives of so many kids. Cathy's love of children expanded beyond her own daughter and teaching career, and she & Bill spent many years parenting kids from all over the world. They hosted more than 18 exchange students from more than 10 countries. They stayed in contact with almost all the kids and were able to travel the globe visiting their extended family. Cathy had many hobbies that included cooking, gardening, camping, reading, sewing and watching movies. But, hands down, the thing that mattered most to her was her family and relationships with those surrounding her. Cathy loved her family dearly and was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter & friend. She spent her time pouring into others all that she had to give. She was always ready to lend a hand. Trusting in God became a daily commitment to Cathy after she was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2009. After a five month battle, Cathy was taken home on May 7, 2010. She did not go, however, without a fight. She was an inspiration to us all as we watched her try to slay this wicked disease. Never once did she complain, or ask why me. She spent her days focusing on living in the moment, and being grateful for the love and support that surrounded her. She found the beauty in the smallest of things, and was always quick to offer a smile or word of comfort to those around her. Cathy is survived by her husband, Bill Landles and daughter, Lisa Landles Morgan, three grandchildren, Isabelle, Sophia & Jonathan Morgan, mother, Vicki Hansen, brothers, Mike & Bob Hansen, son-in-law David Morgan, and her numerous "adopted" children throughout the world: Ale Frattini, Francesca Urpis, Claudia Marceddu, Francisco Amado, Frank Umbach, Fernando Damonte, Ale Urzi, Ocatavio Toledo, Carlos Toledo, Mila Sufianova, Anna Rita Tropa Luis, Jason Clark, Andrew Thompson, Greg Flowers, Kelly Emus, Juan Carvajal, Serena Antonelli, and Tomomi. Please join us to celebrate Cathy's life. Her memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 15th at First Baptist Church, 3550 Fox Meadow Rd., Eugene, Oregon. There will be a reception immediately following the service. Please bring stories and/or photos to share and leave. In lieu of flowers, a memorial scholarship fund has been set up in Cathy's honor. You may contribute to the Catherine A. Landles Memorial Scholarship Fund at any Key Bank branch location. Help us keep Cathy's memory alive by honoring her great love of children and their education. All donations are tax deductible