Mary Catherine Redding

Mary Catherine Redding of Coalinga, CA passed peacefully on Sept 24, 2023 at the age of 92.

Catherine was born to Oscar and Mildred Davis on December 8, 1930 in El Paso, TX. Her early childhood memories include living in an Army surplus tent while her father built the family home in El Paso. After graduating high school, she went to work for the National Biscuit Company. While visiting friends in Long Beach, CA. she met her future husband. Catherine married her life-long partner, Jim Redding, of Coalinga, on April 12, 1953 in El Paso. Following their wedding Catherine and Jim moved to Coalinga. They we married for 64 years when Jim passed away in 2017.

Upon settling in Coalinga Catherine went to work for Security Bank, as a teller for several years. She then started her 38 year career with Coalinga USD. She started in the high school library and transferred to become the high school attendance secretary. Catherine was a familiar figure to all students and was respected by administrators for her ability to keep the office running smoothly. She also volunteered with the California Highway Patrol office in Coalinga, was a life-long member of both the Coalinga Women’s Club and the Order of Eastern Star.

Catherine and Jim loved to travel. They went on an Alaskan cruise. They took their travel trailerthroughout the United States, traveling to El Paso and New Mexico to visit Catherine’s family, many trips to Willow Creek and Eagle Lake with friends and family, and attended several of Jim’s Navy ship reunions. Special memories their grandchildren have were the times they were included in Grandma and Grandpa’s travels. Catherine also traveled to Hawaii and England with her best friend (AKA “partner in crime”) Lois Steele. A highlight of their trip to England in 1976 was Catherine getting to meet her long-time pen pal, Eilene West.

Catherine was gifted with a love of handcrafts, including sewing, crocheting and quilting. These are skills she learned from her mother. The love of quilting she passed on to her daughter, grand-daughter, great-granddaughters and most recently her great great-granddaughter, building a multi-generational family of quilters. Catherine made certain all family members have hand made items from her to cherish for years to come.

Catherine will be remembered for her ability to beat Jim at Cribbage and Yahtzee, her beautiful creations, her collection of porcelain dolls, her enjoyment of the outdoors and her love for family.

Catherine is survived by her daughter, Sharon (Rex) Gallagher, her granddaughter Gretchen (Steven) Schmidt, grandsons Shawn (Shane) Gallagher and Grady (Petra) Gallagher and her grand daughter in law Faline Gallagher. She is also survived by her great grand children Nathaniel and Audrey Soares, Brianna (Taylor) Tanner, Josie, Cody and Layke Gallagher and step great grandsons Callan and Bohan Anderson. She is blessed to be survived by her great great granddaughters Kimber and Remington Tanner.

Catherine was proceeded in death by her husband Jim, her parents Oscar and Mildred Davis, her siblings Buddy Davis, Evelyn Hazel and Paul Davis, and her great granddaughter Taylor Soares.

Graveside services to celebrate Catherine’s life will be held on Thursday, October 5, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Coalinga. A reception will follow at the Coalinga Women’s Club.

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