Catherine Sheppeck Narita passed away on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at the age of 81. She passed peacefully in the company of family while in care at the Alexander Cohen Community Hospice House.

Born Catherine Marie Sheppeck on May 21, 1943 in Acón, Panama, Cathy was the third of four children and first daughter of Army Lieutenant Colonel Michael L. Sheppeck M.D. and Genevieve Douglas Sheppeck. After early childhood years in Panama and Japan, Cathy and her family settled in Washington D.C. In her youth, Cathy excelled at swimming and qualified for the National Junior Olympics in 1955. Cathy later attended college at Saint Scholastica in Duluth, MN and attained a degree in Medical Records Information. Her career led her to a job at Stanford Medical University Hospital in California where she would meet Ken Narita, whom she married on November 8, 1969.

Ken and Cathy first lived in San Mateo, California before moving to Modesto, where they raised three daughters and then later retired to Oakdale. Cathy was a wife and life partner, sister, mother, grandmother, family member, and friend that was always giving. She gave her thoughts and opinions to her long time book club, her time and energy to the Community Sharing food bank, and gave away dozens of quilts that she made by hand for friends and families to mark special occasions. Her generosity of her time and love will be greatly missed by all that knew her.

Cathy is survived by her husband of 55 years, Kenneth Narita; their three children, Kimberly Absher of Salida, CA, Karen Shotts of Walnut Creek, CA, and Kristen Narita of San Francisco, CA; along with four grandchildren and two great grandchildren; her brother, Michael Sheppeck, and her sister, Mary Lou Sheppeck.

Cathy was preceded in death by her parents and her brother James Sheppeck.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

The Riverbank (Calif.) News

June 11, 2025