Share Catherine Lee Withrow's obituary with others.
Invite friends and family to read the obituary and add memories.
Stay updated
We'll notify you when service details or new memories are added.
You're now following this obituary
We'll email you when there are updates.
Select your format and elements to print
In Memory Of
Catherine Lee Withrow
1972
2026
Catherine Lee Withrow
Sep 18, 1972 — Jul 6, 2026
Fort Collins
Listen to Obituary
Catherine Lee Withrow passed away on July 6, 2026, in a tragic accident. She was 53.
Cate was born in the heart of New York City, and when she was two, her family moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It was there that she developed a lifelong sense of adventure, especially in the wilderness. After moving to Fort Collins as a first grader, she became part of a generous community, and a great big sister to her brother Palmer. Cate attended Shepardson Elementary, meeting lifelong friends and was recognized as Outstanding Female Athlete and Miss Congeniality. She attended Boltz Junior High, where she formed even more lifelong friendships, and then graduated from Fort Collins High School, where she was named the Coloradoan Student of the Year and earned All-State honors in two sports and All-Conference honors in a third. It was also there that she met her lifelong partner and great love, her husband, Richard Morgan. She was accepted to the University of Arizona, where she ran hurdles, spent a sojourn year in Alaska with her dear uncle Mark, and later graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in biology.
Rick and Cate married on August 3, 1996, and moved to Denver so Rick could attend medical school. While in Denver, Cate discovered her passion for caring for young people. She taught prevention education for Planned Parenthood, working in detention centers and high schools, and also worked in a shelter for homeless teenagers.
After moving to Seattle with Rick, she earned a master’s degree in nursing and became a nurse practitioner. Seeing a need for a different kind of medical care, Cate helped spearhead Qliance, a low-cost, high-access direct primary care practice. Patients without insurance could access medical care 24 hours a day. She was a true trendsetter in making quality patient care more accessible for everyone.
In Seattle, her two precious daughters were born. Their family then moved to South Carolina so Rick could pursue further education before returning to Fort Collins ten years ago.
Shortly after arriving back in Fort Collins, before the girls had even started school, Cate was elected PTO president, serving for two years. Just as the COVID-19 pandemic began, she decided on a career change. Never having taught in a traditional classroom before, she began teaching at Boltz Middle School, instructing students both online and in person—sometimes simultaneously—and always while wearing a mask. She went on to have an extraordinary impact there as a charismatic science and math teacher. She developed a new health curriculum, coached hurdles, and started a running club. She was the teacher who was always ready to help any student, offering a listening ear and a safe place. She did it all with a wonderful sense of humor and homemade baked goods. Cate was also deeply involved in supporting the cross-country team at Poudre High School, where her two daughters attended.
Cate loved to run, ski, travel the world, hike in the mountains, and cook. Her greatest passion, however, was her family—Rick and their two beautiful daughters. She supported them wholeheartedly in every way and was immensely proud of all they accomplished in education, athletics, and volunteer service. Together, they shared countless adventures across the United States and around the world, embracing the joy of experiencing different cultures.
She was a devoted daughter, a beloved sister to Palmer, and a cherished friend to the countless people whose lives she touched.
Cate is survived by her husband, Rick Morgan; their two daughters, Zola and Colette; her parents, Sue and Steve Withrow; her brother, Palmer Withrow, and his wife, Ashley; her mother-in-law, Patty Power, and her husband, David; her sister-in-law, Cameron Simmonds, and her husband, Mark; and her nieces and nephews, Jillian and Henry Simmonds, and Wylie and Maggie Withrow.
A memorial service will be held at the Lory Student Center on the CSU campus on August 1 at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Cate Withrow Foundation for Education to continue her legacy of ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. We appreciate your commitment to education, and the light that burned so brightly in Cate will never be extinguished.
/erp/donate/create/fund
/erp/donate/create/fund
Cate was born in the heart of New York City, and when she was two, her family moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It was there that she developed a lifelong sense of adventure, especially in the wilderness. After moving to Fort Collins as a first grader, she became part of a generous community, and a great big sister to her brother Palmer. Cate attended Shepardson Elementary, meeting lifelong friends and was recognized as Outstanding Female Athlete and Miss Congeniality. She attended Boltz Junior High, where she formed even more lifelong friendships, and then graduated from Fort Collins High School, where she was named the Coloradoan Student of the Year and earned All-State honors in two sports and All-Conference honors in a third. It was also there that she met her lifelong partner and great love, her husband, Richard Morgan. She was accepted to the University of Arizona, where she ran hurdles, spent a sojourn year in Alaska with her dear uncle Mark, and later graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in biology.
Rick and Cate married on August 3, 1996, and moved to Denver so Rick could attend medical school. While in Denver, Cate discovered her passion for caring for young people. She taught prevention education for Planned Parenthood, working in detention centers and high schools, and also worked in a shelter for homeless teenagers.
After moving to Seattle with Rick, she earned a master’s degree in nursing and became a nurse practitioner. Seeing a need for a different kind of medical care, Cate helped spearhead Qliance, a low-cost, high-access direct primary care practice. Patients without insurance could access medical care 24 hours a day. She was a true trendsetter in making quality patient care more accessible for everyone.
In Seattle, her two precious daughters were born. Their family then moved to South Carolina so Rick could pursue further education before returning to Fort Collins ten years ago.
Shortly after arriving back in Fort Collins, before the girls had even started school, Cate was elected PTO president, serving for two years. Just as the COVID-19 pandemic began, she decided on a career change. Never having taught in a traditional classroom before, she began teaching at Boltz Middle School, instructing students both online and in person—sometimes simultaneously—and always while wearing a mask. She went on to have an extraordinary impact there as a charismatic science and math teacher. She developed a new health curriculum, coached hurdles, and started a running club. She was the teacher who was always ready to help any student, offering a listening ear and a safe place. She did it all with a wonderful sense of humor and homemade baked goods. Cate was also deeply involved in supporting the cross-country team at Poudre High School, where her two daughters attended.
Cate loved to run, ski, travel the world, hike in the mountains, and cook. Her greatest passion, however, was her family—Rick and their two beautiful daughters. She supported them wholeheartedly in every way and was immensely proud of all they accomplished in education, athletics, and volunteer service. Together, they shared countless adventures across the United States and around the world, embracing the joy of experiencing different cultures.
She was a devoted daughter, a beloved sister to Palmer, and a cherished friend to the countless people whose lives she touched.
Cate is survived by her husband, Rick Morgan; their two daughters, Zola and Colette; her parents, Sue and Steve Withrow; her brother, Palmer Withrow, and his wife, Ashley; her mother-in-law, Patty Power, and her husband, David; her sister-in-law, Cameron Simmonds, and her husband, Mark; and her nieces and nephews, Jillian and Henry Simmonds, and Wylie and Maggie Withrow.
A memorial service will be held at the Lory Student Center on the CSU campus on August 1 at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Cate Withrow Foundation for Education to continue her legacy of ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. We appreciate your commitment to education, and the light that burned so brightly in Cate will never be extinguished.
/erp/donate/create/fund
/erp/donate/create/fund
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Upcoming Services
Celebration of Life
Colorado State University
Guestbook
Visits: 21
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors