Raneta Jean Cave, 78

Raneta Jean Cave, whose bright eyes and genuine smile could light up a room and invite connection with everyone she met, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was 78.

Raneta was born in 1946 in Creston, British Columbia, the closest hospital to her family’s home in Port Hill, Idaho. She grew up in northern Idaho with her parents, brother, and sister, and graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1964 before going on to attend business school in Spokane, Washington.

In addition to raising her daughters, Raneta built a fulfilling career in administrative roles across the insurance, legal, and medical fields, ultimately serving as registrar at Port Townsend High School until her retirement. She had a natural gift for connecting with people — whether students, patients, clients, or coworkers — and took great joy in the relationships she built through her work. Her daughters often wonder how she managed to juggle it all with such grace: making pancakes in the morning, heading to work full-time, and still being fully present for her family.

Though she was a classic introvert — most at peace with a good book and a quiet evening — Raneta embraced a life full of movement, exploration, and change. After leaving Spokane, she lived in Ramstein, Germany; Whittier, California; Federal Way, Washington; Plymouth, North Carolina; Eugene, Oregon; and finally settled in Port Townsend, Washington, where she spent the last 37 years.

Raneta was deeply empathetic and kind, with a genuine curiosity about the lives and stories of others. She had a gentle way of bringing comfort and light into people’s lives, whether through a heartfelt conversation, a check-in call, or a kind, well-timed word that made someone feel truly seen. Compassionate and grounded, she approached life with thoughtfulness, practicality, and quiet strength. Her dry wit and sense of humor could catch you by surprise and leave you laughing.

A lover of books, Raneta was a voracious reader who passed her passion on to her daughters and grandsons. Some of their most cherished memories include afternoons at the library and cozy reading sessions together. She also loved the outdoors — taking walks, exploring Fort Worden’s hidden bunkers with her grandsons, and setting off on summer boating adventures through the U.S. and Canadian San Juan Islands with family and friends.

More than anything, Raneta poured her heart into the people she loved and truly valued the time she spent with family and friends. They loved her just as much and will carry her memory with them always. 

She is survived by her husband, George Cave; her daughters, Shelby Montgomery (Jeff Aylesworth) and Lindsey Montgomery; her grandsons, Isaac Nielsen and Otto Aylesworth; her brother, Bill Hawks; and her nieces and nephews, Kathy, David, Michael, and Susan Hawks. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rita Huffman and Norman Hawks; her sister, Karen Hawks; and her nephew, David “Davey” Clay Hatfield.

To honor Raneta's memory, donations may be made in her name to the Hospice Foundation for Jefferson Healthcare, the Port Townsend Threshold Choir, or the Friends of the Port Townsend Library.