the Obituary of Nettie Catherine Lewis

Nettie Catherine Lewis passed away in Mt. Shasta, California on July 16th, 2024, at 71 years of age. She was born in Tulare, California on September 16th, 1952, to Della and George Lewis, Dunsmuir residents who were working as seasonal migrant farmers at the time. Nettie was the youngest of three daughters. Shortly after Nettie’s birth, the family returned to Dunsmuir and George scraped together a living, playing honky tonk music in local taverns and bars. In 1954, George was killed by a drunk driver, and Della remarried a logger, moving the family to a logging camp in McCloud where Nettie spent her early childhood.

Nettie was whip-smart and loved school; she attended McCloud Elementary, Castle Rock Elementary, and Dunsmuir High School. After graduating from Dunsmuir High in 1970, Nettie was the first in her family to attend college; she studied education at Chico State and then University of California, Santa Barbara. She got a job at a weapons factory in Santa Barbara, where she met the future father of her daughter. Some of Nettie’s happiest memories were spent in Santa Barbara, walking on the beach and driving her yellow VW bug through the hills. In 1982 Nettie moved back to Dunsmuir to live with her mother and step-father, Monk Simmons, raising her daughter, Catherine, with their support. Nettie worked as a house cleaner and as a teacher’s aid at Dunsmuir Elementary.

Nettie was very shy, and it took a great deal of time to earn her trust. Those who got to know her remember her dry sense of humor and infectious laughter with fondness. She was a movie buff; her favorites were Woody Allen comedies and classic black and white films like Lilies of the Field and To Kill a Mockingbird. Nettie was also passionate about history and politics, particularly WWII and the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement. She was a devoted member of a Jewish monthly book club and, although not Jewish by heritage, felt a profound connection to Jewish spirituality and culture. She also loved music, and spent many hours listening to her extensive collection of Beatles vinyl and dancing in the living room to Motown hits, especially the Jackson 5.

Nettie was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters. She is survived by daughter Catherine Clother and grandchildren Finley, Simon, and Mirabelle Clother.