Catherine Gaither Sunday

Catherine Gaither Sunday passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 29th, at the age of 78. She was born to Charles and Mary Dorothy Gaither in El Paso, TX. She grew up in a large, loving family as the third of six children. She was always studious and excelled in school.

During the summer of 1962, she traveled with her family to the World’s Fair in Seattle and fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. After graduating near the top of her class from Bel Air High School, she attended the University of Dallas and earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Texas at El Paso, where she was a member of the Beta Beta Beta Honorary Biology Society.

After college, she worked as a lab technician at the Public Health Service Indian hospital in Albuquerque, NM, but never a fan of the heat, she packed up her new Chevy Nova and drove to Seattle in 1974. She worked at the University of Washington and lived her big-city dreams, making new friends along the way. In December of 1974, she attended a Christmas Party hosted by a coworker. It is at that party that she met the love of her life, Doug Sunday. He was a school teacher living in Poulsbo, so during their courtship they took the ferry often to see each other, and she lovingly referred to their romance as a “Ferry Tale Romance”. Thinking he would for sure propose on Valentine’s Day, she was a little disappointed when he waited a couple days and instead asked her on Presidents’ Day. The history teacher in him had to do it in his own unique way. She found him charming and loved his quirks and would often tell that story. They were married that June and spent the next 50 years building an amazing life together. They welcomed oldest daughter Katie in 1976, son Fred in 1979, and youngest daughter Rachel in 1981. Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joy, and she was affectionately called Emi by all her grandkids. She shared a special bond with each of them.

She was married to a dreamer and spent her life lovingly keeping him grounded. A devoted provider, she made certain her family was always cared for, always putting their needs before her own. In her professional life, she was primarily a laboratory manager and Hospital Administrator who took great pride in her work, approaching her career with the same care, intelligence and dedication that she showed in every part of her life.

Together with her husband, she also owned several businesses, where she managed the finances and helped build their shared dreams. One of these businesses was Viking Video, which they opened in 1982 with good friends Rick and Dee Healy. This was the first video rental chain in Kitsap County and was a business that beautifully combined their love of movies, entrepreneurship, and community.

After selling Viking Video in 1988, the family moved to Chewelah, Washington, where Catherine served as the laboratory manager at St. Joseph Hospital for many years. They raised their family there and formed many lasting friendships. But always nomadic, they moved once their youngest had graduated. Over the years, they made their home in Dayton, WA; Kalispell, MT; Silverton, CO; Ellensburg, WA; and ultimately settled in Naches, where they could be close to their daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.
Intelligent, capable, strong, and determined, she gave everything to those she loved. She raised her children to be independent, compassionate, and courageous, leaving a legacy of strength and love. Our Mom seemed to know everything and was the rock and foundation of our family.

She had a deep love for travel and adventure, and the Sunday family was always on the go. Summers, school breaks, and even those times when a deal was simply too good to pass up were filled with trips and memories. Together, they explored nearly all 50 states and parts of Europe all before the children graduated high school. Each journey was a blend of careful planning and spontaneous adventure. One of the greatest gifts she gave her family was the gift of memories that will last a lifetime. In retirement, she and Doug took several more amazing trips, including the grandkids in many of their adventures. Their favorite way to travel was by ship and ventured to destinations around the world including, Australia, New Zealand, China, and South America, and in total they took eleven cruises. When she wasn’t on the go, she also enjoyed playing pinochle with her husband and dear friends.

A devout Catholic, her faith was the foundation of her life and sustained her through every season. After suffering a stroke in November 2024, she faced many health challenges yet never lost her spirit or her trust in God. Throughout her recovery, she and her husband faced these challenges together, supporting one another with love and determination. Even while in and out of rehab and skilled nursing, she remained involved in the daily household tasks, helping manage appointments, finances, and daily life. They cared for each other and always worked as the perfectly matched team.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Doug Sunday; her children, Katie Crise, Fred (Jackie) Sunday, and Rachel (Matt) Keeler; her grandchildren, Johnathan, Matthew (Lexy), Faith (Josh), Xander, Peyton, Tori, and Fairden; and her great-granddaughter, Sunday. She is also survived by her beloved sisters, Meg (Jim), Ellen, and Lola (Mark), and her big brother Doyle, along with many cherished nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her little sister, Louise; her brother-in-law, Bob; her mother and father-in-law; her nephew Scott; and her very special brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Bonnie Sunday.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Naches, WA. A reception will follow at the Church.

Brookside Funeral Home & Crematory is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at brooksidefuneral.com.