Obituary: Boardman, Catherine Barbara
Age 94
She was born on January 27, 1921 on a dairy farm in Mandan, North Dakota to John and Frances (Schmidt) Ehlis, the middle child of seven siblings, Andrew, Adam, John Jr., Simon, Rose and Minnie.
At the age of 17 Catherine enrolled in beauty school and attained her cosmetology license in Bismarck, North Dakota.
She married Richard Edward Boardman in 1941 and they were married for 59 years until his passing in 2000.
In the mid-40s Catherine and Richard relocated to Spokane, WA to spend their lives raising their two sons, Daniel Richard and Roger Raymond.
Before opening her own business she cut hair out of their family home.
In 1965 she would proudly open up Catherine’s Coiffures and stayed in business for 41 years, working six days a week.
Cutting hair was her passion in life and it was so much so that she held this profession for over 60 years, retiring when she was 85 years old.
In an interview with the Spokesman-Review newspaper when she retired in 2006 Catherine shared the comment: “Work has been my pleasure.
I don’t ever regret a day that I worked”.
She is survived by her two sons and daughter-in-law, Daniel R. and Jacklynn Boardman of Glendora, CA and Roger R. Boardman of Anacortes, WA; five grandchildren, John, Brian, Dana, Gregory, Scott and one great-grandchild, Shea Lynn.
While her family was filled with mostly men, all would agree that Catherine was the true matriarch of the family and she always knew best!
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 17, 2015 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Anacortes, WA.
A Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at Holy Cross Cemetery in Spokane, WA.
In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to City of Hope in Duarte, CA.
Arrangements are in the care of EVANS FUNERAL CHAPEL AND CREMATORY, INC., ANACORTES, WA and the San Juan Islands.
To share memories of Catherine, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.