Cathy Jean Miller, 52

Cathy Jean Miller died peacefully at home at the Montana Waterfowl Foundation in Ronan on Friday morning, Oct. 13, 2006, with the dignity that she lived. Cathy was born in Hardin in 1954 and lived on the family ranch through high school.

She attended the University of Montana before returning to the Hardin area, where she broke the mold to become the first female in the Ironworkers Union while working at Colstrip.

She traveled to many and varied parts of the world, including Nepal, India, Europe, and Central and South America. A favorite trail wound through the Sawtooth Mountain Range, where she cooked and wrangled for the dudes.

Founding the Montana Waterfowl Foundation in concert with her 'date' and soulmate, John Jarvis, was her life's heart contribution, and that endeavor is ongoing.

Ten years ago, she returned to the family ranch to care for her father and mother, Ed and Edna Mae Miller, and the land they all held dear. While there she started a small gift store with Guatemalan crafts, actively worked with the Jailhouse Gallery and Big Horn Arts Association and served as a board member of the Custer Country Tourism Board for Eastern Montana. Meanwhile, the ranch bloomed through her hard work, and her last calf crop was to be envied.

She returned to the Waterfowl Foundation after her cancer diagnosis in June.

Throughout her life, Cathy shared her strong will and determination, love and endless generosity with all who knew her.

'As Cathy joins her mother, father and nephew, Carl,' she leaves her sister, Sherry, her brother and sister-in-law, George and Monica, her niece and nephew, Maja and Augusto, her partner, John, and a family of hundreds of friends to carry on with their efforts to embrace and live life as fully as she demonstrated it can be lived.

'Cowgirl to the Core … let 'er buck.'

The gate to the Foundation will be open at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, for friends to stop by and share in a celebration of her life and love.