Catherine Rae Littlefield

Catherine Rae Littlefield passed away peacefully on the afternoon of May 13, 2025, surrounded by many of her beloved family members who had traveled to be at her side. After a courageous battle with pancreatitis and other health challenges, she returned home to her Heavenly Father.

Catherine was born on June 16, 1947, in the old LDS Hospital in Panguitch, Utah, to Max W. Henderson and Violet Rae Smith. After the tragic passing of her father when she was just seven years old, she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Joseph Hughes. She was the oldest of three daughters and shared a close bond with her sisters, Charlotte Matthews and Maxine Veater.

Catherine grew up in Cannonville, where she loved exploring the red hills with her childhood friends. She attended Bryce Valley High School, and her graduating class was one of the largest at the time. During her senior year, she met her sweetheart, Marion Walter Littlefield, at a dance—and from that moment on, their love story began. The two were married on August 21, 1965, in the Manti Temple.

Together, Catherine and Marion raised five children: Lynette, Sharlene, Tracy, Austin, and Mitchell. Due to work and life's trials, they lived in many different places over the years, but eventually found home in Tropic, Utah, where they built a life they loved.

Catherine dedicated herself to being a homemaker. Her family will always remember her delicious meals, especially her famous potato salad and chili, dishes her sons-in-law often requested. She loved canning and bottling vegetables from the family garden and passed on those skills to her children.

She was also a talented crafter - crocheting, knitting, and sewing with great care. Catherine was an active member of the Quilt Guild and the local Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP), where she enjoyed participating in meetings and events. As her health declined, she was no longer able to attend, which brought her sadness. She leaves behind many unfinished projects, symbols of her enduring creativity and love for her family.

In her later years, the weight of her own health challenges, along with those borne by her beloved husband, her daughter, and her granddaughter, took a significant toll on her. Even so, she remained a source of love, comfort, and strength for those around her.

She is survived by her children: Lynette (Wally) Orton, Sharlene, Tracy (Brett) Chynoweth, Austin, and Mitchell (fiancée Terra); her sister, Maxine (Daryl) Veater; her sister-in-law Lynda Littlefield Gates, brother-in-law John Matthews, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her eternal companion, Marion W. Littlefield; her parents, Max W. Henderson and Violet Rae Hughes; her stepfather, Joseph Hughes; her sister, Charlotte Matthews; and many beloved family members, including her sister-in-law Helen Beatty; sister-in-law Rose Marie Bailey; brothers-in-law McKay Bailey, Edwin Littlefield, and Robert Gates; grandsons Simon and Anderson Littlefield; and granddaughter Savannah Chynoweth.

Catherine's life was a testament to quiet strength, enduring faith, and unconditional love. She will be dearly missed and forever remembered.

A viewing will be held at the Tropic Ward chapel on May 24, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The funeral will begin at 12:00 p.m. followed by the graveside at Georgetown Cemetery in Cannonville, Utah.