Juanita Catherine "Nita" WORKMAN

WORKMAN, Juanita 'Nita' Catherine
Juanita 'Nita' Catherine Workman passed away peacefully on March 22, 2012 in Roseville after a courageous battle with an extended illness. Nita was born in Billings, MT on October 4, 1923 to Walter and Ida Clara Nies and loved living on a ranch and riding horses. She moved with her family to Gerber, CA in grade school and later to Berkeley, CA. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, where she met and married a handsome navy veteran, James R. Workman. During their marriage, they had three children, Janice Claire Workman Watenpaugh, Joan Catherine Workman Newman, and Steven James Workman, M.D. Helping to raise these three, overseeing their education, athletics and other activities, brought her great joy. She was a homemaker extraordinaire, taking great pride in her home and mastering numerous world cuisines. An elegant individual in both poise and presence, she enjoyed collecting fine antiques and pursuing her interest in interior design. She loved great books, debating politics and applying her keen business sense to the stock market and was active in bridge clubs, investment clubs and served as treasurer of several community service organizations. She enjoyed few things more than sharing with Jim the sunset over the Berkeley hills and the panoramic view of Mt. Diablo from the deck of their Orinda home. A fitness buff, she enjoyed playing tennis and hiking the unparalleled high country trails of Yosemite. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Margaret Ashby, and her loving husband of 52 years, Jim. She will be dearly missed. In addition to her children, Jann, Joan and Steve, she is survived by four grandchildren whom she loved overwhelmingly: Matt and Julie Workman of Roseville, CA and Chris and Lindsay Newman of Winnetka, IL. Services will be private. Donations in Nita's memory may be made to the UCSF Foundation ( https://makeagift.ucsf.edu) or to the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church (LOPC Foundation), where Nita and Jim were life-long members. Information and condolences can be given at www.chapelofthevalley.com