Lois Catterson Frazee

Aug. 12, 1924 - April 11, 2008

A memorial service was held for Lois Catterson Frazee, 83, of Coos Bay, on April 13. A private memorial service will take place at a later date in California.

Lois was born Aug. 12, 1924, in Denver, Colo., to Frehn H. and Sarah (Ginther) Catterson. She died April 11, 2008, in Coos Bay.

Lois' accomplishments include graduating from Ottawa Public High School in Ottawa, Ohio, where she was valedictorian in 1942. She attended the University of Manitoba in Winnepeg, Canada, where she earned the Governor General's gold medal, and was awarded an English scholarship as a freshman for having the highest English grades. She also won a tuition scholarship each year for having the highest grades in class. She majored in home economics with a minor in sciences.

She kept a 4.0 grade-point average throughout all her school years. After graduating from the University of Manitoba in 1946, with a bachelor's degree, she attended the University of Minnesota, where she was a graduate research assistant. She graduated in 1948, and earned a master's degree in foods and nutrition, with a minor in chemistry and related fields.

While in college, she belonged to Lota Sigma Pi, the National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry; Kappa Omicron Nu, a national honor society recognizing excellence in family and consumer sciences; and the national honor society, Phi Upsilon Omicron.

Outside activities while a student included being sorority president, rush chairman, and doing rifle shooting (she was women's champion in her senior year). She was on the debating team, was editor of the home economics yearbook, worked on the school newspaper for four years and served on the student body as a graduate student.

After completing school, she was an instructor at the University of Minnesota from 1948 to 1949, then moved to California, where she was an editor for Sunset Magazine from 1948 to 1950. She left that position and took a job for a year and a half at Western Regional Research Laboratory in Albany, Calif., in the San Francisco Bay Area, where her duties included organoleptic appraisal of foods stored under various temperatures. She did taste test panel work and statistical evaluation of results there.

She worked from 1953 to 1956 as acting assistant professor of foods and nutrition at the University of California, Los Angeles.

While living there, she belonged to an elite bridge club, playing with the likes of Walt Disney, Omar Sharif, Louis B. Mayer and Phyllis Gates, Rock Hudson's wife. She became a Bronze Life Master in bridge in recent years.

She has had works published, several vitamin research papers, in the Journal of Home Economics. She also co-authored several papers for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while on food taste test panels.

Her loves included her children and grandchildren, gourmet cooking, oil painting, playing bridge, square dancing and reading.

Lois lived from 1958 to 1988 in San Jose, Calif., where she enjoyed many good times, visiting with family members and good friends and going on vacations. Later in life, she moved to El Dorado Hills, Calif.; Fernley, Nev.; and Gardnerville, Nev.

She joked she had moved 49 times in her lifetime. Other places she lived included Hong Kong, Ohio and Washington.

When Lois moved to Coos Bay in August 2007, she quickly joined a bridge club and became a member of Christ Lutheran Church.

Lois was a true lady, as was her mother. She was a kind and gentle person, and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her, especially those closest to her.

She is survived by her daughter, Jo Rafferty and her companion, Jack Carrerow of Coos Bay; her son, Bret Frazee of Orangevale, Calif.; her daughter, Jane Frazee of Guerneville, Calif.; her grandchildren, Joshua Frazee of Orangevale, Patrick Rafferty, currently serving in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii, Jane Frazee of Roseville, Calif., Bryce Rafferty of Reno, Nev. and Mitchell Rafferty of Coos Bay; her brother, Donald Catterson and his wife, Sallie Catterson of Palm Desert and Homewood, Calif.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her father, Frehn H. Catterson; and her mother, Sarah Ginther Catterson.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Christ Lutheran Church, 1835 N. 15th St., Coos Bay, OR 97420; or South Coast Hospice, 1620 Thompson Road, Coos Bay, OR 97420.

Arrangements are under the direction of Coos Bay Chapel, 267-3131.

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