Roberta Ethel Cato

ROBERTA ETHEL “BOBBIE” LEE CATO

May 27, 1932 - October 15, 2023

            Bobbie was born May 27, 1932 in Hancock, New York to Robert and Dorothy Lee.  She went to school at Hancock Central School, all grades in one building.  She was a cheerleader and interested in journalism, which lasted her whole life.  We didn’t have to watch the news—Mom always filled us in!

            She was baptized at Hancock Baptist Church when she was 13, and taught Sunday School there.   She married Fred MacDonald in 1952, and they later divorced.  Bobbie loaded up her kids and with the help of her brother, Leo Lee, moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to begin a new life near her parents and her sister, Barbara Faigle and her family. 

            After moving to Farmington, NM Bobbie completed a secretarial course at San Juan College.  There she married Harley Cato and together they managed apartments back in Albuquerque.   After Harley passed away she moved to Casper, Wy where her kids were living. There she worked at Woolco, the Ramada coffee shop, an answering service  and the Shirley Basin uranium mine office.

            Bobbie always had an interest in crafts, and true crime television.  Each year for a long time she sent each of her kids a new ceramic house for a Christmas village.  She was a voracious reader, checking out 4 or 5 books a week at the public library.  Mostly, she loved spending time with her kids and grandkids. 

            Bobbie bravely fought lung cancer at 91 years of age.  She was preceded to Heaven by her parents, brother and sister, and many other relatives and friends.  She is survived by her children, Patricia (Mark)  Rush of Mills, Wyoming; Dale MacDonald and James Lee of Casper, Wyoming and Timothy MacDonald of Doniphan, Missouri; 14 grandchildren and over 20 greats and great-greats, and lots of relatives back east.

             The family has planned a family dinner and celebration of Bobbie’s life in her home, which she would love.