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Natalie, K9CAT
Natalie K. Andrews, K9CAT
July 7, 1945 to July 24, 2003
Natalie Andrews was born Natalie Kay
Young on July 7, 1945, in Terre Haute, IN. Her early years
were spent in West Terre Haute, IN, until she moved to Newport, IN,
in the middle 1950's, graduating from Newport High School in
1963.
Natalie married Donald Dee Carty in
June of 1963 and they moved to Columbus, OH, where Dee was stationed
with the U.S. Air Force. After spending a few years in
Bloomington, IN, they returned to the Terre Haute area in
1972. Natalie & Dee separated in early 1992 and were
divorced in September, 1992.
Natalie married Raymond N. Andrews,
K9DUR, on December 31, 1992.
Natalie possessed an interest in
radio and emergency communications for many years. She
achieved her goal of becoming an amateur radio operator when she
earned a Technician class license in June of 1992. She was originally issued
the call sign N9QKH. In
April 1997, she was issued the call sign K9CAT under the vanity call
sign program. K9CAT was originally issued to Ray's brother,
Robert L. Andrews, in 1952.
At the time of her death, Natalie
was a member of the following amateur radio organizations:
American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Wabash Valley Amateur Radio
Association (WVARA), Young Ladies Radio League (YLRL), Crossroads of
America Amateur Radio Ladies Association (CAARLA), Vigo County ARES,
Illiana Skywarn, and the Terre Haute Radio Club. Natalie was
an associate member of the Buckeye Belles and was a chapter
associate of the Banks of the Wabash Chapter #204 of the Quarter
Century Wireless Association (QCWA).
Natalie served as the
Secretary of the Wabash Valley
Amateur Radio Association from January 2000 until December
2002. In February 2003, she was elected as the 1st President
of the Crossroads of America Amateur Radio Ladies Association,
a post she held until her death.
Other notable achievements in
Natalie's amateur radio career include:
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Natalie assisted as a non-VE
with VE test sessions between 1993 and 2002, handling the
administrative paperwork.
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Natalie assisted with amateur
radio classes sponsored by various organizations over the years by
helping with administrative details and providing
refreshments.
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Natalie actively served for
several years with the Illliana Skywarn organization as a trained
spotter.
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Natalie used her amateur radio
experience to serve with the American Red Cross as a volunteer
trained in damage assessment and as a Disaster Action Team
member.
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In January 2003,
Natalie helped to organize an amateur radio club in the Terre
Haute area dedicated to furthering the participation of YL’s in
amateur radio and was elected to serve as its first
president. This
organization, the Crossroads of America Amateur Radio Ladies
Association, is an affiliated club of the Young Ladies Radio
League (YLRL).
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In the spring of 2000, Natalie
was awarded the Everyday Hero Award by the Wabash Valley Chapter
of the American Red Cross.
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In October 2000,
Natalie was awarded the coveted John K. Lamb Award for outstanding
community service by the Greater Terre Haute Chamber of
Commerce. This award
is given annually and is the highest award given for volunteer
community service in the Terre Haute area. Her amateur radio
activities played a prominent role in her nomination for the
award.
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On March 22, 2003, Ray &
Natalie were jointly awarded the Brentlinger Award from the Wabash
Valley Amateur Radio Association. This award is given
annually to the outstanding amateur or amateurs from the Wabash
Valley. In the 56-year history of the award, Natalie was the
1st YL to receive this prestigious honor.
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On November 15, 2003, Ray &
Natalie were jointly presented the 2003 Indiana Outstanding
Amateur-of-the-Year Award by the Indiana Radio Club Council.
In the 55-year history of this award, this was only the 3rd time
that it was presented to a husband-wife team, and Natalie is only
the 6th YL to earn this recognition by her fellow
amateurs.
On July 24, 2003, Natalie lost a 4-year
battle with colon cancer. To her last breath, in typical
Natalie fashion, she was more concerned for her friends and family
and for the health professionals assisting her than she was for
herself. |