Cathie Ann Martin

OREGON - Cathie Martin passed away on Friday, August 8, 2025, at her home in Oregon, Wis. Born to Catherine and James Manion on April 2, 1941, in Prescott, Wis., she lived a life full of good tea, great adventure, and even better friends.

Despite her parents’ best attempts, Cathie was a spirited child who spent her early summers playing in the St. Croix River with kids who were often treated unfairly. Her social open-mindedness and embrace of people of all races and creeds was a commitment she carried throughout her life and she carried these values into her work with children and families. In 1963, she attended Camp Kokosing in Vermont, bringing with her open-mindedness, proficient swimming abilities, and confidence. It was at the camp where she met Howard Martin. Howard was at the camp on a university exchange scholarship from Durham University in England, and, as Cathie would tell the story, he was so helpless at teaching the canoeing course that she was forced to help him. After many nights spent together under the stars that summer, Howard couldn’t help but follow Cathie home to Wisconsin to spend more time with her. They never separated, marrying in 1964.

After spending some time in England while Howard finished his studies, Cathie and Howard settled in Oregon and had three children, Ellen, Ian and Nicholas. Oregon became their home, where she became active early in the community, helping to start the first community soccer program in Oregon. Cathie touched the lives of many through the various careers she pursued. Through her work with Dane County she touched and improved the lives of many, her work as a dental assistant was the catalyst to meet her dear friend, Dana Hanson, and along with friends Dana and Barb Cassidy, she became involved in the Madison area antique business, traveling back to England frequently to peruse the large antique shows she loved so much. If you ever bought an antique in Madison with a United Kingdom flag sticker on it, you were likely appreciating Cathie’s keen eye for value and quality.

Cathie retired to help look after her newly born grandchildren. She kept a basement full of toys, an oven full of treats, and a binder full of worksheets to ensure they had good penmanship. She and Howard undertook numerous travels, utilizing their bungalow in Tickhill, England as a base for various excursions throughout Europe, accompanied by both longstanding and newly acquainted friends. However, her love for her family and her love of travel faced stiff competition from her passion for the game of pickleball. Further embracing the Oregon community, she took a small group of women playing pickleball together a few times a week into a regularly scheduled event listed, alongside other pickleball offerings, in the Oregon rec department schedule. The friends she made on the pickleball court brought immeasurable joy to her last few years. She served as an inspiration to numerous individuals by actively participating in pickleball until the age of 83 and consistently supporting and welcoming others into the pickleball community. She would have loved more time to play with all of you, we would have loved more time to play with her.

Cathie is survived by her husband, Howard Martin; her children, Ellen (Marty) Smith, Ian (Holli) Martin and Nicholas (Gail) Martin; her grandchildren, Alexander, Ian and Catherine, Aidian, Alley, Taylor and London; as well as her best friend, Dana, who was there with her through it all; and her siblings. She will be deeply missed.

A celebration of life will be held at GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 1150 Park St., Oregon, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2025, with a time of sharing at 4 p.m. A celebration of life reception will follow immediately at Ellen Smith’s house in Stoughton. Please contact a family member for the address. In lieu of flowers, a memorial bench at the pickleball courts will be funded. Please make donations at the https://gofund.me/a118462a, and the funds will be allocated directly to the bench dedication.

Special thank you to Mike Brown, who provided exceptional care with loving kindness to Cathie, Howard, and the entire Martin family and to Alli from Agrace HospiceCare services, who tirelessly fought against the many system barriers while providing excellent patient care. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Oregon

Funeral & Cremation Care

1150 S. Park St.

(608) 835-3515