Catherine Hunt Ferree, 4/9/1946-2/7/2011, a long time resident of Charlotte VT, died at home almost three years after she was diagnosed with cancer. Cathy was born in Hartford, Conn. and grew up primarily in Pittsfield, Mass. She graduated from Kent School in Kent, Conn. in 1964, and was in the first group of girl students who made Kent School coed in 1960. She attended McGill University and completed her undergraduate degree in chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa. Cathy was an avid naturalist and outdoors woman. She worked for the Appalachian Mountain Club in the early 1970’s, then moved to Vermont in 1973 to help open Eastern Mountain Sports in South Burlington. She worked for the US Forest Service in Vermont for several years while she was in the graduate forestry program at UVM. Cathy also studied accounting and had her own bookkeeping business. She was with TDBank for the last 15 years, where she worked tirelessly as an assistant vice president and regional tax advisor for Vermont and New York. Cathy was a passionate protector of animals and served on the Board of the Humane Society for several years. She loved music and was a member of South County Chorus and United Church of Hinesburg choir. She was a gifted gardener, who loved to share her knowledge of plants and trees with others, and a lively friend who was always open to adventure, whether it was sailing, hiking, traveling or partying! After being diagnosed with cancer, Cathy became actively involved with the Cancer Support Center at Fletcher Allen Medical Center and was determined not to let cancer inhibit her life. She received outstanding care at Fletcher Allen and Massachusetts General Hospital and she maintained a remarkable quality of life while dealing with her illness. She did not want to consider dying, so she focused her energy on living large and was an inspiration to all who knew her. She is survived by her brother, Charles Ferree of South Hero; her sister, Beth Ferree and brother-in- law, John Eaton of Lafayette, Calif.; her niece, Linden Marno Ferree; and her three nephews, Charlie, Matt and Chris Eaton.
