Former area resident Charlene (Cates) Hess died Jan. 7, 2014, at her home in Fife, Wash.

She was born April 3, 1965, in Seattle to Kenneth and Darlene Cates. A graduate of White River High, she loved her family and enjoyed gardens, ceramics, making scarves and camping. She worked at Farman’s pickle factory, then spent 14 years at Fred Meyer as cake decorator/manager and, finally, in the hardware department at Walmart.

She is survived by mother Darlene Cates of Buckley; sisters Christine (Jack) Billingsley and Colleen (Paul) McKee, all of Enumclaw; brother Kasey (Becky) Cates of Buckley; daughters Cherie (Steve) Wheeler of Puyallup, Tiffany (Jenny) Hess of Lakewood, Wash.; stepdaughter Lanai Skidmore; son Shawn (Debbie) Cunningham; and many grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by father Kenneth Cates of Buckley; husband Grover Hess of Fife; and brother Kevin Cates of Buckley.

A celebration of her life is planned for 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at Four Square Church of Puyallup.

Donations in her honor are suggested to PAWS or a recipient of the donor’s choice.