Catherine Martin

Catherine Elizabeth Martin, of Oxford, New Jersey, passed away at on Friday, August 31, 2018 Born December 1, 1969 in Casper, Wyoming, she was the daughter of Anthony Martin and the Late Margaret Sue Martin.She was baptized at the Church of St. Anthony in Casper, Wyoming on December 21, 1969.

An Army Brat (her mother was in the U.S. Army), she spent some of her early childhood living at the Cosmetic Arts and Sciences School in Casper, Wyoming, and at the Southern Nevada University of Cosmetology in Las Vegas, Nevada, and she worked for a time in that field.  She was also a trained medical assistant and had an internship with a Dr. William Von Tobel in Las Vegas in 1988.  She was married to the Late Todd Arnesen with whom she had two children, Phillip Arnesen, in 1987, and Benjamin Arnesen, in 1989, they later divorced.  Catherine later had a son Dillon, whom she placed for adoption and established communication with later in life.

Catherine attended Casper College for Computer Science in 1996, and later obtained an Associate Degree in Political Science from Casper College in 2003-2004.  She attended the University of Wyoming Outreach (Casper College Campus) in 2005-2006, obtaining a Bachelors in Social Science, with emphasis in Political Science.  

In the late 1990s to early 2000s she worked for Boise Cascade Office Products in Casper, Wyoming.  She also worked a number of odd jobs, including as an extra in the cult classic film Starship Troopers (1997).  She later worked as a paralegal, including for a time with Corinne Miller, Esq., in Casper, Wyoming, and used her legal skills as a paralegal to fight for civil rights, including those to protect the integrity of families.

Catherine had a love of the culinary arts which she passed on to her son Benjamin.  She would often fondly recount the time she met Iron Chef Bobby Flay in person at the kitchen of his restaurant in New York City, where her family now meet to celebrate her life and recount fond memories of her.  She embraced life, the good and the bad, and loved her family.  She loved the Christmas season.  She also loved nature and the outdoors, especially the rain.  She often reflected that one should embrace the rain, because “God is in the rain.” 

Cathy’s remains were cremated, and a small private service with close family and friends was held at Christ The King Cemetery in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, where her ashes were interned, with plans to later return her ashes to her home state of Wyoming. Cathy is survived by her sons, and two grandchildren by her son Benjamin, Logan Arnesen and Haley Arnesen.  She is also survived by her beloved pet cats Boo Boo and Foo Foo.

Cathy was dedicated to fighting for the integrity of families and keeping families together in times of hardship or injustice against them.Her son Ben continues this legacy through his work at the Wyoming Rescue Mission, which provides shelter to homeless men, women, and children in the community, places homeless families in permanent housing solutions, and provides mentorship and recovery programs to those in need.  Donations in her name may be made to the Wyoming Rescue Mission (https://wyomission.org/), 230 N Park St, Casper, WY 82601.

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