Catherine Elizabeth Satterlee

September 30, 1934 - November 13, 2021

 

              Our Beautiful, Loving Mom, Grandy, Sister, Auntie, Friend, finished her Journey of Life surrounded by her children & grandchildren. Mom’s life was packed full of Unconditional Love for her family and friends that were her family.

              Catherine Elizabeth Buhl (Kathy) was born to Frank Buhl Sr. and Annie Sullivan on September 30, 1934. She was the baby sister to Geraldine & Francis and Robert, Frank Jr., & William Buhl. She wove the Heartstrings that tied all the siblings together.

               Mom married our dad Norman Davis in 1953 and they were blessed with Don, Loren, Lyndsay and Andine. Her blessings 5, 6, 7 & 8 wait for her at Heaven’s Gate. They later divorced. Mom married Art Satterlee in 1973 and they shared 31 years of loving memories until Art’s passing in 2004.

               In early adulthood, Mom worked 2-3 jobs as a waitress and bartender at the most iconic restaurants and bars in Anaconda: The Reno, Park Café, Copper Club, Eli’s Den, Copper Bowl, China Café, and the Crackerville Bar to name a few. She also took in laundry and ironing when her children were small. In 1974 she went to work for Buttrey Foods and that was her niche, her 2nd family. Her customers were always greeted with a smile and would wait in her line to be able to be checked out by her. In the late 1980’s she was recognized as #2 in sales in the U.S. for selling Bavarian China. Mom retired in 1991 shortly after losing her son Loren. She spent the remainder of her daughter Lyndsay’s life in WA staying with Uncle Bob & Aunt Bubbles while praying Lyndsay would get a heart-double-lung-transplant due to Cystic Fibrosis. Lyndsay lost her battle in 1993 and part of Mom’s Heart has been in Heaven with her Angel children since those years. 

               Mom’s kitchen was the Heart of the Home. Sunday dinners were her tradition and those are Treasured Memories all her children and grandchildren will always remember. She never met a stranger! All her children’s friends were “her kids” and they all called her “Ma”! 

               All day Pinochle games with her “ladies” included finger sandwiches, slab cherry pie, Pepsi, and the 30-cup coffee maker always on. Bingo was another passion for her, and she would drive to the Racetrack Bingo Hall in Butte 7 nights a week in all kinds of weather; often picking up a hitchhiker, against her kids’ discouragement, earning the nickname “Angel of the Highway”. 

               In June 2010, Mom suffered a stroke that left her homebound with assistance. In October 2010, her first love from 1951, Earl Keeney, called her and their Beautiful Love Story ignited again after 61 years. Her “Sweetheart” has commuted to Anaconda every 2 weeks, and they have had 11 years of Love and Happiness; the most endearing testament to their Love. Mom called him her “First and Last Love”. 

               We will cherish the memories of her Insight, Words of Wisdom, and Unconditional Loving connections to her “Darling” friends and family. She spoke of her Life Story through her poetry.         

At the Gates of Paradise she was welcomed by her Dad, Mom, her Cherished Loren and Lyndsay; “her boy” Jeremy; grandbabies Angela, Eric; great grandbaby Dawson; sister Geraldine, brother Francis (Uncle Red), brothers’ Robert, Frank Jr, William Buhl; beloved sister-in-law Caroline (Auntie Bubbles); nephew Bobby Schonsberg; beloved Cousin Anna Mae Thornton; Bonus daughters Marletta Scharosch and Connie Seymour.

               Surviving Family includes son Don (Karla) Davis- Justin Caissey (Megan, Zack, Kaylee, Layna, Alison); Joshua (Alyssa) Caissey (Camdynn, Jamison, Huntley); Jared (Stacy) Caissey (Alyssa, Dias, Kayne, Jaidyn); Jedidiah Davis. Daughter Andine (Woody) Woodruff- Katlin (Devin) Tonkin (“Grandy’s babies” Hudson & Thad); Travis (Keri) Graham and Family; Luke Davis (mom Megan); Blake Johnson and Mia Davis (mom Nikki); Lorna (Belgenman) Neal (Elijah, Isayah, Naima, Isaac Loren); Angelica (Dale) Fundahn (Anna, Gracelynn, Adeleise, Colton), Blue Vaughn; Connie Jo Taylor, Heather and Frankie Hintz and families; Loving sister-in-law Jean Buhl (Linda, Jenie); Cherished nieces/nephews Linda Ann Evans; Rogue (Barb), Scott (Mary), Sandy Schonsberg; Clyde and Geri Kay Nichols; Gina Alto and families. Caroline (Jim) Anderson, Skip (Jane), Boyd, Bill (Jana), Kahl (Mary) Buhl & Jeannie Buhl and families. Loving cousins of the Thornton and Sullivan families. Soul Sister Patty (Kiki) Skakles--such a Beautiful Quilt You have Woven, Mom.

               Mom never said “good-bye”, only “later”. Her niece Gina would always sing to Mom “My Heart Will Go On” from the Titanic with her Angelic Voice-Always making her Auntie Smile with Joy while crying tears of Love.

Her loving words that will echo forever and always, expressed to her loved ones when leaving her company were “take my Angels’ with you when you go”. Her song for her Lyndsay “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” now has more sentimental meaning. Her song request for her memory: “I Will Remember You, Will You Remember Me?”

Our Beautiful Mom, you are Unforgettable and Your Beautiful Legacy for Your Beautiful Family that you stitched together with your Loving Heartstrings will live on Forever in the Family Quilt! Thank You Mom for All Your Gifts! Your Poems will live on and be Treasured for Generations. We will Love You Always & Forever.

Mom’s wishes were to be cremated. A Family Celebration will be held in the Spring. In Lieu of flowers, please send remembrances to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Origin Health- Dr. M. Barnett Fausett OB/GYN Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 2381 Fort Missoula Rd, Bldg 2, Ste 232, Missoula, MT 59804.

The Dandelion

When my Angels were small, they’d pick me wildflowers, and give them to me with a kiss.

Their sweet little faces, precious hands full of flowers, filled my heart with such bliss.

Now my Angels are grown, they still pick me wildflowers.

One Angel has gone Home, up above. I'm not sure what he's doing, but I have an idea, he's tending God's Garden with love.

Now I stroll through my Garden of Memories, the flowers that grow there are rare. Low, in the midst of my garden, blooms a flower beyond compare.

The Beauty of the Angel's flower was blinding to my sight, and just to know it grows there, fills me with delight.

When my days are dark and filled with despair, to my garden I quickly go.

There to my Garden of Memories, where the Dandelions grow.

(MUMMY)