Catharine Ann Turner (nee Northway) — loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend — passed away peacefully in her sleep in Santa Barbara on the evening of July 19, 2024 at the age of 79 following a battle with dementia.
Born on Sept. 30, 1944 in Fresno, California, she was the darling daughter of Harry and Lucille Northway.
Catharine spent her early years in Santa Cruz, California, living with her parents and older brothers, Jack and Robert Northway. She and her family enjoyed frequent travels to National Parks, camping and enjoying nature.
Catharine graduated from Santa Cruz High School before moving to the beautiful desert landscapes of Tuscon, Arizona, to study history at the University of Arizona. While studying, she met her loving husband Guy Chapman Turner Jr., who was a fellow student at the university.
Catharine and Guy married in a simple Presbyterian ceremony surrounded by friends at their Tucson, home on Nov. 24, 1965. They celebrated their honeymoon immediately following the event over the Thanksgiving holiday in romantic Sedona, Arizona.
The following years brought an exciting relocation for Catharine and Guy to what would become their forever home in beautiful Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara blessed Catharine and Guy with exciting new employment and social opportunities. Catharine dove into a new role at the University of California, Santa Barbara Library and became a specialist in government publications.
She excelled in and enjoyed her work, especially relishing the opportunity to work one-on-one with university students as they navigated the vast array of publications available to support their work,
Catharine and Guy also became involved in the local Santa Barbara Yacht Club, and enjoyed many years developing lasting friendships, sailing their yachts Cloudburst, Summertime and Alakazam in the waters off Santa Barbara’s beautiful coastline.
Catharine became an ever-present supporter of the Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation alongside her husband Guy. Together they provided support for countless Youth Sailing Regattas in Santa Barbara and beyond.
Surviving Catharine is her husband of 58 years Guy C. Turner Jr.; her son Guy C. Turner III (Chad) (wife Dolores) of Valencia, Spain; and daughter, Elizabeth Turner Ottosen of Zurich, Switzerland. Catharine was blessed with four grandchildren Sara Turner Ottosen, Kasper Turner Ottosen, Nicolas Terasso Turner and Hugo Terasso Turner.
In accordance with Catharine’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A private memorial celebrating her life is planned with her immediate family.
If considering memorial contributions, please consider a donation to the Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation or to Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc.