Winkie, Cathleen Stanley

Cathleen Stanley Winkie

Cathee Winkie, 55, peacefully passed away, surrounded by family and friends, at her home in Raleigh, N.C., on March 24, 2012, after a brief stint with pancreatic cancer after being diagnosed on Thanksgiving 2011.

Cathee's life journey began Jan. 12, 1957, born to Lamont Culver Stanley and Donna Watson Stanley, in Endicott, N.Y. At the age of 1, her family relocated to Rochester, Minn., eventually settling in Raleigh, N.C., in 1965. Cathee graduated from Peace College in 1977.

She then moved to Iowa City, Iowa, in 1978 to marry her lifelong friend, Joe, formerly of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Their beautiful daughter, Devon joined Cathee and Joe's life journey in the summer of 1979.

Cathee and her family then moved back to North Carolina in the summer of 1980. In 1984, she began her lifelong career at RTI as an administrator coordinator where she worked up toward her journey's end.

Cathee's favorite things in life were the beach, enjoying time with family and friends by playing cards, games, along with various other shenanigans, and taking care of God's little creatures: birds, squirrels, deer, and foxes.

Cathee is survived by her loving husband and friend, Joseph Andrew Winkie, of 34 years; her beloved daughter and friend, Devon Renee Winkie and her husband, Thomas Joseph Bruntmyer; and her dear grandchildren, Madalyn and Ayden. She also will be deeply missed by her mother-in-law, Marion Winkie; her brother, Curtis Charles Stanley and his wife, Leslie Schroeter Stanley, and their three children, Jonathan Stanley, Eric Stanley and Stephanie Stanley Creighton; her sister, Susan Hammond and her husband, Tim Hammond, and their son, Christopher Hammond; her sister, Carol Vaughn and her husband, Ted Vaughn, and their two daughters, Emily Vaughn and Hanna Vaughn; her brothers-in-law, Mike Winkie and Bob Schaffer; her sisters-in-law, Susan (Chris) Sexton and Cyndy (Randy) Ward; along with multiple nieces and nephews.

Cathee was predeceased by her parents, Lamont and Donna Stanley; her father-in-law, Sayre (Wink) Winkie; her sister-in-law, Julia (Winkie) Schaffer; and her beloved pets, Chelsea and George.

A Celebration of Cathee's Life will be held Thursday, April 12, from 4 to 8 p.m. Mitchell Funeral Home, 7209 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, N.C.

Memorial donations can be made to the SPCA, www.apsofdurham.org, in memory of Cathee.

Condolences and special memories can be shared at www.MitchellatRMP.com

The family would like to sincerely thank Hospice of Wake County and the numerous friends who have helped and supported Cathee's family during her journey's end.

Published April 1, 2012 in The Gazette

Updated and republished April 8, 2012 in The Gazette