Catherine Jo Cardenas

Catherine "Cathe" Jo (née. Densmore) Cardenas

Born July 28, 1949 in Columbus, Georgia - died March 8, 2024 in Tulsa, Oklahoma surrounded by her children and loved ones. Cathe was proceeded in death by the love of her life, Eduardo Cardenas, by her parents, Halmon and Violet (née. Boswell) Densmore, her brother-in-law, John Cardenas, and is survived by her sisters Lucille, Beth, Janet, and Nancy, her Cardenas-in-laws and families, her seven children and 10 grandchildren: Catherine (Claude), Claude Jr., and Catherine A., Christina (Jayson), Demitria and Gage, Vanessa (Bob), Keegan and Zane, Brianna (James), Madison and Carmen, Julianna (Ryan), Evee and Bellamy, Jonathan (Melinda), and Susanna (Terry) and numerous nephews, nieces, and loved ones.

Cathe graduated from Irving High School in 1967. Then, returned to Georgia and worked as a switchboard operator where she reconnected with her high school sweetheart as he called home from his military service. Cathe and Ed married on November 30th, 1969, and were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple for time and all eternity on May 22, 1973. She obtained a degree in nursing specializing in midwifery. She practiced in hospitals, as a travel nurse, and co-owned her own midwifery clinic. In addition, she served in a variety of church callings, frequenting temple services with close friends. In retirement she enjoyed international travel, fine dining, gardening, rock collecting from Hot Springs Arkansas, hosting 'Cousin Camps' for her 10 grandchildren, shopping the Costco with friends. Cathe was active in her Wordscapes group, US Patriots, and made many gaming friends. She was active in politics and spent her last day serving our country as a volunteer at her local polling precinct.

Additionally, Mom was active in Jenks America Track and Field Club, was a Pokeman Gym Leader at her local Borders Bookstore, hiked the Grand Canyon "the rim-to-rim hike" completing it in 1 day with Ed, vacationed with her family by tent; trailer-camped in many U.S. National Parks, traveled to Hawaii, Mexico, Belize, Japan, Costa Rica, and Panama.

A fond memory we have of Cathe is from her youth when she and her best friend Bonnie went to the local department store that was giving away a chance to win Beatles concert tickets in Atlanta. Cathe took an entire entry pad and filled out the entire book of forms and won those concert tickets to see the Beatles. That same drive was displayed her entire life whether it was home birthing her own children or dedicating her energy to supporting and educating her family and uplifting the community, caring for her husband in his declining health, or advocating for those in her life. She spent her life in the service of others.

In lieu of a funeral, her family would appreciate your stories shared on the tribute wall.