Communications
Cat began her career with WSDA in 2008, working in the Pesticide Management division, but most recently was a feed specialist and field inspector with the Animal Feed Program in the Food Safety & Consumer Services division.
“From first meeting, you could tell that Cat was a smart and passionate individual and these qualities seemed to easily translate over to her job at WSDA,” Randy Treadwell, Rapid Response and Emergency Management program manager, said. “Cat took me on my first animal feed inspection and I was struck by how she managed the room with authority while remaining friendly and professional. She was a teacher, mentor, and friend to many.”
Cat had a deep background in agriculture. She and her husband, Jerry, lived on a ranch in Ellensburg with cattle, two horses and a cat. Cat was the oldest of eight children, and her family had dairy operations in Western Washington and did ranching east of the Cascades. She liked to say she grew up on both sides of the state.
Cat was an avid horseback rider who had been riding since she was a kid. Two of her granddaughters are ranked first and second in the state at the Northwest Junior Rodeo.
Accomplished and caring
She was very involved in the feed safety community, both within the state and globally. She helped develop national curriculum systems content and wrote inspector-training standards for the International Food Protection Training Institute. She was also a feed ingredient investigator for the Association of American Feed Control Officials, and also provided technical assistance and outreach to various industry associations.
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| Cat with good friend and coworker Angela Gantuah, on left. |
Her supervisor in the Animal Feed Program, Ali Kashani, remembers, “I had the honor and privilege of knowing and working with Cat since the beginning of her career here - first in Pesticide Management and then in Food Safety and Consumer Services. Cat had a comprehensive approach and attention to detail during inspection and investigation. She was very passionate about regulatory work, had deep understanding of our stakeholders’ issues and believed in providing technical assistance whenever possible.”
Cat was known as a caring and accomplished colleague by her coworkers.
“She had a very passionate and unique soul,” said her colleague, Ashlee-Rose Ferguson. “She had a field staff of three who truly felt she represented and supported them.”
Food safety compliance specialist Angela Gantuah considered Cat a close friend.
“My friendship with Cat is deep and powerful,” Angela said. “I met her in Spokane during a January snowstorm and we had an instant and intense connection. She had an uncanny ability to help you find the value in all that you do and especially yourself. She cared deeply about her work and loved her family and friends.”
Food safety officer Caleb James remembered that Cat went out of her way to take care of colleagues.
“Cat was a very caring person who cared about you not just as a coworker, but as a person,” Caleb said. “She was genuinely interested in your family, faith, hobbies, and personal well-being. When working with her in the field, she would often pack extra food in her lunch to make sure I had enough.”
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| The photo for which Cat won a national photography contest award. |
Cat also had a great interest and talent for photography. Her photo of a barn in Lincoln County earned her a photography contest award from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.
Cat is survived by her husband, her mother, three adult children, and grandchildren.
In summary: WSDA is mourning the loss of a special person and valued employee. The colleagues of Cat Marrier, an animal feed inspector, remember her passion for her work and her compassion for others.
