Sylvia was born September 23, 1922, to John and Anna (Ulman) Katarzy in Eureka, MT. They lived in Libby, MT on the farm and she was the only girl. She had six brothers. Mom loved to talk about her life on the farm. She was treated like one of the boys and they started calling her “Moby Dick” and eventually “Moby,” which she is still known as by her brothers, nieces and nephews. She milked cows, brought cows in from the fields, rode horses and had a favorite pig named “Bessie” and a cow named “Molly.” Through the years, she was a huge animal lover. She donated anything she could afford to animal associations. One evening in 1939, she was watching a baseball game her brother Walter was in and she noticed this guy watching her. It was Robert McGrew. Walter broke a leg and Robert brought him in so he could meet Moby. They met and, with a whirlwind of romance, they married. She never forgot him watching her. It was a short courting and they were married October 1, 1939. They had three children. They lived in Libby, MT until 1948, when they moved to East Wenatchee, WA. They later moved to Wenatchee, WA in 1955. Robert passed away January 31, 1964. Sylvia was then married to Frank Ware from July 1965 until 1978. In 1985, she sold her home and moved to Phoenix, AZ to be near her son. In Arizona she was a Nanny. She really enjoyed that position. In 1990, she moved back to the area and lived in Entiat as a caregiver. In 1993, she moved to Randall, WA and was retired. In 1997, she had a car accident and stayed in assisted living in Olympia, WA. In July 1998, she moved to Garden Terrace in Wenatchee and was there until December 20, 2012. Then at Colonial Vista in Wenatchee, where she passed away peacefully on August 2, 2013. We are all going to miss her dearly. That beautiful smile. Sylvia did housekeeping for several doctors in the area after they moved to East Wenatchee. She became employed by Cascadian Fruit Shippers in the packing and sorting of various fruit. She was a 59 year member of the Wenatchee Eagles Auxiliary, where she went through all the chairs we believe two or more times. She was on the Drill Teams and the Ritual Teams, was a past President and went to their meetings as often as she could. She was also a Royal Neighbor of Wenatchee, where she did the chairs. In her spare time, she loved to crochet and make things for family and friends. She was an avid bowler with several trophies to show and 300 point games. She is survived by her daughter, Darla (Royal) Fechner of East Wenatchee, WA; her son, Walter (Julie) McGrew of Olympia, WA; grandchildren, Lisa Norman of Arizona, Neal Fechner and Barbara Baird, both of East Wenatchee, WA, and Robin Jess and Kelli Jess, both of the Everett, WA area; and 12 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers, Otto Katarzy of Sedro Woolley, WA and Arthur (Marlene) Katarzy of Freemont, CA; along with many nieces and nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her first and only love, Robert Russell McGrew; daughter, Linda Dealy, in 1991; grandson, Rolland Todd, in 1986; and four brothers over the years: Freddy, Hank, Walter and Johnny Katarzy. A Private Graveside Service will be held at the Wenatchee City Cemetery. Arrangements are by Telford’s Chapel of the Valley in East Wenatchee.

Source: Wenatchee World, The (WA) – Tuesday, August 6, 2013