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Catie Kniess

 Born on July 26, 1953, in the snowy city of

Rochester, NY, Catie Kniess has spent a lifetime

collecting stories, adventures, hobbies, friends,

and more than a few colorful words along the

way. With hair as bright as her personality and a

heart as big as the forests outside her Oakhurst

window, Catie is one of those unforgettable

people who leaves a lasting impression

everywhere she goes.

Catie stayed in Rochester until her mid-twenties.

But life in New York took a dramatic turn

during the infamous “Blizzard of the Century” in

1977. Snow piled so high she couldn’t even get out of her driveway.

While many people were digging out, Catie was making a life-changing

decision. Trailways was offering a one-way bus ticket anywhere in the

United States for just $50, and Catie thought, “Why not California?”

Next thing you know, she was headed west to sunny San Jose on a 5-

day, 5-night adventure.

Before California came calling, Catie’s early life was already full of

entertaining twists. She had three brothers who were 15, 20, and 25

years older than she was, making her an aunt before she was even born!

In fact, because her mother didn’t realize she was pregnant and thought

she was simply sick, some family members jokingly referred to Catie as

“Mom’s ten-pound tumor.” One of her brothers stayed at home until

Catie was around five years old, but for the most part, she grew up as

an only child.

School wasn’t exactly Catie’s favorite thing, though she did attend all of

her schooling in the New York area, including general education courses

at a junior college. In high school she played the clarinet, but academics

never truly captured her attention. Real life, however, certainly did.

Long before she was old enough for an official paycheck, Catie babysat

for extra money. At 16, she landed a job at Woolworth’s, then moved

on to a BB gun factory where she operated a punch press — not

exactly glamorous work, but definitely memorable. After that, she

became a lens inspector for Bausch & Lomb, working with their famous

Ray-Ban sunglasses. She later spent years working overnight shifts at

an answering service in Rochester, and continued doing similar work

after moving to San Jose. Apparently, Catie had a talent for keeping

things running smoothly while the rest of the world slept.

Catie eventually returned to school in California, continuing classes while

building her new life. In 1982, she got married and soon found herself

entering the booming high-tech world at the now-defunct GE Calma

Company. She began in administration before moving into the technical

writing department, where she spent an impressive 25 years building a

successful career with several high-tech companies. When she was laid

off at age 50 from the high-tech world, she took the time to return to

school yet again and learn American Sign Language. She worked at the

California School for the Deaf in Fremont for a couple of years, until the

commute got overwhelming.

Family has always remained at

the center of Catie’s world. She

has two sons, now ages 35 and

40, along with three grand-

children. She’s also an honorary

grandma to eight teenagers,

thanks to her oldest son’s wonderfully large extended family. And then

there’s Bailey — her adorable six-year-old Maltipoo companion who

happily shares life with Catie in Oakhurst.

When Catie isn’t volunteering all over town, she’s usually busy creating

something. Her hobbies include card making, watercolor painting, jigsaw

puzzles, crossword puzzles, and experimenting with many vegetarian

recipes in the kitchen. She volunteers as secretary on the Sierra Senior

Society board, serves on the board for the Friends of the Oakhurst

Branch Library, is Marketing representative for the Sierra Lions Club, a

long-time volunteer with Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue, and

participates at Mountain Universalist Unitarians.

One of Catie’s most heartfelt projects is creating handmade cards for

shut-in seniors through a Facebook group called “From the Heart.” She

has sent thousands of cards over the past 10 years. Her compassion for

animals is equally impressive. As former budgie coordinator for the bird

rescue group, she once cared for 20 to 30 birds at a time and

estimates she has fostered more than 100 birds over the years. She’s

currently fostering one feathered little friend.

Catie says one of her favorite things about living in Oakhurst is the

beauty surrounding her and the friends she has been able to meet. She

loves being close to town and near the lake, but her absolute favorite

part is the peaceful view out her back window — nothing but trees and

nature, with no neighbors in sight.

Travel has also played a big

role in Catie’s colorful life.

She’s gone on knitting

cruises and rubber stamp

cruises while visiting places

like Russia, Finland, Swe-

den, Germany, Estonia,

England, and Alaska multiple times. While she hasn’t traveled recently,

she still dreams of someday seeing the Northern Lights from a glass ice

hotel room in Scandinavia.

And if you’ve ever met Catie, chances are you remember her hair. For

the past 20 years, she’s proudly rocked every imaginable color —

purple, blue, teal, pink, and often several colors at once. Catie says it

makes her happy, makes others smile, and starts conversations

wherever she goes. It’s become part of her signature style, right

alongside her wonderfully colorful vocabulary.

Catie also happens to be a huge science fiction fan. When asked whether

she’d rather ride a dinosaur through its natural habitat or travel

through space with aliens, she didn’t hesitate for a second: aliens,

absolutely. A lifelong fan of Star Trek and science fiction, Catie says

exploring space alongside extraterrestrials sounds like the ultimate

adventure.

Whether she’s fostering birds, volunteering in the community, solving

crossword puzzles, cruising across oceans, or showing off brilliantly

colored hair, Catie proves that life is best lived with creativity, kindness,

humor, and just a little bit of sass. Around Oakhurst, people may know

Catie for many things — her volunteer work, her artistic hobbies, her

love of sci-fi, or Bailey trotting faithfully beside her — but most of all,

they know her as someone who brings color into every room she enters.

Next time you see her give her a wave hello and count on her to bring a

smile to your day.

Welcome to Sierra Senior Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of senior citizens in the Eastern Madera County area. Our mission is to organize and promote education, nutrition, health, and overall well-being for our cherished community of seniors.

We go beyond just fostering well-being; we strive to create bonds of friendship, goodwill, and mutual understanding among our members, extending these values to all seniors in the region. At the heart of our mission is the commitment to open communication and the sharing of experiences.

As active community contributors, we take a keen interest in the civic, cultural, and social welfare of our area. Sierra Senior Center serves as a platform for open discussions on matters of public interest, creating an inclusive space for voices to be heard.

Join us in our journey to build a thriving community where every senior citizen can flourish, connect, and enjoy the richness of life. Welcome to Sierra Senior Center – where every moment matters!

 Navigating to Sierra Senior Center is a breeze! Once you spot the Oakhurst Community Center, head left at their entrance onto Cinder Lane. Follow the road along the parking lot and a dirt parking area. As you continue, a Baseball Field will appear on your right, and voila – our entrance is right in front of you. No need for detours; just follow these simple directions, and you'll be with us in no time! And, to make things even easier, we've included a map for you. See you soon!