The blessed life and times of Shirley Katka – Monrean. We’ll touch on the three men that shaped her life… Jesus Christ, Jack Monrean and Mr. Clean. You know, the bald-headed cleaning guy. More about him and Mom’s OCD later.

Mom was born to Scandinavian parents, Richard Katka and Esther Bue-Katka, in the small city of Seattle on Nov. 20, 1940. Her father a small business owner and longshoreman, her mother a teacher and later a nurse.

By today’s standards, Mom grew up poor, but she didn’t know it. She and her sister, Beverly, would know tragedy at an early age when their father died when Mom was 16. Raised by Esther, or as my dad called her, “Echa” – you’ll find nicknames of family and friends was rampant growing up. Etcha worked tirelessly to provide for her daughters and shape them into beautiful women and fearless believers while attending the local Lutheran church. Mom graduated from Lincoln High School or affectionately known as “Stinkin’ Lincoln” in north Seattle. Even buildings weren’t safe from nicknames.

Mom took a job as a telephone operator with Bell Telephone right out of high school. The beautiful young blonde would become Miss Bell Telephone and represent the company leading up to the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962. Of historic note, baseball slugger Ted Williams also known as “The Splendid Splinter,” was an ambassador and admirer of Mom. He even asked her on a date. But Mom’s heart was stolen by “The Man,” a young college student named John Monrean and known as Jack. Way to go Dad!!!

Dad was in Army ROTC while attending Seattle University and holding down jobs as a painter, semi-pro football player, and by then apple of Mom’s eye. Soon after being married they welcomed their toe-headed baby boy, John Robert Monrean Jr. The three would soon venture on to military life upon Dad’s graduation from Seattle U. with a Labor Relations degree in hand.

White glove inspections at the Army housing were no match for Mom. She made sure her husband, beautiful son and home were impeccably clean. Soon the cleanliness gene rubbed off on toddler John, where he exclaimed… “gicky floor” when he was at a neighbor’s house. Gicky would never be seen at an officer’s home but would become another nickname. Gicky wouldn’t stand in the Monrean household… ever!

The Vietnam War was gaining steam as Dad served our country at home. While stationed at Fort Ord Army Base in Monterey, California, the Monreans welcomed their only sweet baby girl, Kristen. The new apple of daddy’s eye. Dad commanded an amphibious unit and often was away, so Mom, her small army of kids and her Army wives would hold down the fort. Never complaining and always supportive, she put her family first… way before herself.

In summer of 1964, the Monrean clan would welcome, Grant, the third child to Jack and Shirley. Soon after the family would leave Fort Ord and transition to civilian life. Our family would move often, from one coast to the other, with Bechtel Construction as Dad advanced in the labor relations field.

Like in the military, Mom would keep the household running, the kids would keep her running, and dad would keep the lights running. Every few years, Mom and Dad would hold a family meeting, where together they would announce our next move. All the while Mom assured us everything would be fine. She was always the rock, the one who would pack up the house, so we could move to some new destination, unknown.

Every stop would bring new neighbors and a cast of characters from Dad’s work. We were never shy of collecting new uncles and aunts along the way, who enriched our family so much! Uncle “Tam”… that’s Tom with a Cleveland accent, and Aunt Kathy-kins or Ron and Paula Suggs… their alter egos, Skyler and Paula-Walla Bing Bang. The list goes on. Soon, Mom and Dad’s house went quiet as John, Kristen and Grant ventured into adulthood.

Mom and Dad would move 19 times with Bechtel, finally settling in the Tri Cities in Washington state. There, Mom and Dad would make a wonderful life for themselves, surrounded by loving neighbors and friends. Those friends often times leaning on mom for advice and a friendly ear. Many considered her a mother figure.

Upon retirement, Mom and Dad enjoyed each other as they grew old together, and kept up with their five grandsons, Michael, Matthew, Dylan, Jack and Ryan and great grandchild Peyton. Mom’s house was, of course, immaculate. The washer and dryer were always running, the sink had no dishes, the floors were spotless (thanks Mr. Clean) and Mom made sure Dad was comfortable and well fed. She wouldn’t have it any other way… that’s what she did. Call it nervous energy or OCD, Mom had one gear, and it was Go!

As Mom got into her 80s, her memory began to slip, but the house she built with Dad was her safe place. She didn’t care when her car was sold, or when the cleaning ladies would come in to do “her” floors…she had her safe place. Her comfy couch, her family and friends and her love of 64 years by her side.

Mom had no shortage of friends, so many, you can’t be listed but believe me. All of you were thought of fondly.