Cedar Rapids cab drivers display rolling tribute to slain driver

Cedar Rapids cab drivers say justice for slain cab driver Cathy Stickley, 54, won't come until her accused killer goes on trial.  But in the meantime, cab owners and drivers have come up with a way to pay tribute to the slain driver.

Police charged Johnathan Mitchell, 33, with first degree murder in the slaying of Stickley last week.  Mitchell remains in the Linn County Jail and has not appeared yet to enter a plea.

A majority of the Century Cabs driving around Cedar Rapids now carry a magnetic decal with the initials “CS” and the number “61.”  That's Cathy Stickley's cab identification and drivers say the decals are there to stay.

Cabbie Rayna Blake worked different  hours and didn't know Stickley personally.  Cabbie Judy Wolfe was a friend of the slain driver for years.  But both now share the decal in common on the side of their cabs.  And as they drive around and pick up fares, in a sense the slain driver is going along for the ride.  Blake said it's a neat way to remember a colleague.

“It is neat and she's still kind of driving around and people (see the sign)  say oh yeah, I met her she was really nice and they felt it wasn't fair (her death),” Blake said.

Rayne said her cab's owner came up with the idea of remembering the slain driver with a permanent decal usually attached to the passenger door.  That owner got others to agree it was a good idea and 12 of 19 Century Cabs in Cedar Rapids now carry the tribute.

Judy Wolfe said drivers don't like to talk about what happened that Friday night with passengers.  But if someone notices the decal on the side with her old number, they're more than happy to explain what it means.

“I wish we could do something bigger,” Wolfe said adding “I wish we could go bigger for Cathy because she gave her life for a public service and that's not good.”

Wolfe said since the murder, a number of passengers pass along messages of sympathy for Stickley's family.  Drivers said with the rolling tribute, Stickley may be gone, but she's not forgotten.