Catherine Ann Gibbins
Catherine Ann Gibbins passed away peacefully at her home on June 9, 2026 16 days short of her 80th birthday. A devoted “harbor girl”, Cathy was born and raised in Aberdeen, Washington, and retained her Aberdeen connections until her death. She cherished returning to her Grays Harbor roots and valued walking the beaches both North and South of the harbor.
Cathy attended nursing school in Portland at Emanuel Hospital and served as an OB and post-partem nurse at a couple Seattle hospitals. She also graduated from UW Seattle with a B.S. in nursing.
Following the birth of her two children, Cathy retired to raising children and raising plants in Broadview, Brier, and lastly Edmonds. Her love of gardening remained constant throughout her life, and she remained a docent at Bellevue Botanical Gardens for over 20 years. She was also a talented craftsman, producing quality weavings, baskets of pine needles and beach combing materials, detailed porcelain dolls, and jewelry.
Married for almost 50 years, she met her husband Malcolm Harnois while skiing in 1970. She is survived by Mal, her daughter Anna Haines (nee Harnois), Anna’s husband Zachary, her son Darren Harnois, and her sister Janet “Chris” Breer. She leaves other numerous relatives.
We anticipate an informal sharing and celebration of life in the Seattle area, the date to be set later. Any tributes should be sent in Cathy’s name to or the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society.