Cathy Larae Slinger, 64

Cathy Larae Slinger, 64 years old, of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, went to join her parents in Heaven on Jan. 22, 2022.

Cathy was born May 10, 1957, to Janice Lorraine and Gary Allen Hunt. Cathy and her siblings, Dave and Brenda, were born in Silverton, Ore. Gary and Lorraine started their family in Molalla, Ore., then in 1966 they moved to Cathlamet, Wash. Shortly after in 1967, they relocated the family to their permanent home in Newport, Wash., where Gary purchased a Redimix Concrete company.

During her school years Cathy enjoyed riding horses, cheerleading and playing softball. She also spent some of her time working at the Grizzly Drive In. After graduating from Newport High School, she traveled around the entire U.S. with some friends and ended up in Florida working retail for a short while. Eventually she ended up on the west side of the States again, where she started a job working at West Yellowstone Park, which she really enjoyed.

In 1980, Cathy moved back home to Priest River, Idaho, where she met her lifelong partner and the father of her children, Steven W. Slinger. They were married on Oct. 24, 1981. They had their first child, Steven G. Slinger, on April 24, 1982, at the hospital in Sandpoint, Idaho. Steve and Cathy relocated their family from Priest River to Pinehurst, Idaho, in 1984. Shortly after they had their second child, Valerie Slinger, on June 25, 1985, at the hospital in Silverton, Idaho.

Cathy spent the majority of her working years in the Aquatics Department for the Forest Service in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She ended her professional career working at the Kootenai County Transfer Station as a manager/equipment operator.

Some of her favorite things to do in her free time were boating, motorcycle and 4-wheeler riding, spending time with family, gardening and traveling. She also really loved animals. Some of the places she was fortunate enough to travel to were Costa Rica (several times with her brother Dave), Fiji, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico and the Philippines. She also enjoyed several cruises and made numerous trips to visit her parents and family members in Yuma, Ariz.

Cathy is preceded in death by her parents Gary Hunt (1935-2018) and Lorraine Hunt (1937-2017).

She is survived by her partner in crime Steve W. Slinger, her son Steven G. Slinger, her daughter Valerie Slinger, her step-son Eric Slinger, her brother Dave Hunt, her sister Brenda Pike, her uncles Roger and Darrell Hunt, her auntie Marie Rankin and Betty Carter, her uncle Bill and aunt Nancy Romero and her six grandchildren, Riley, Colton, Haley, Khloe, Ella and Alice.

Cathy was a wonderful person and will be deeply missed. A celebration of life for her will be held in Newport, Wash., this spring.