Earl Catlett was born on August 2, 1946, and passed away suddenly in his home on the early morning of March 21, 2024.

Earl was born in Havana, Arkansas to Dee and Florence Catlett. He had four siblings. He spent many years working in the oil fields throughout Texas, Oklahoma and California. In 1989 he excepted a position with the State of California (CalTrans) and shortly after he was transferred here to Humboldt County. While working for Cal-trans he was able to continue doing what he loved most – being a driller aka roughneck!

During his retirement he spent many years tending to his beautiful flowers in the front yard, of which he was always so proud. You probably had a chance to visit with him if you ever walked by his home on Henderson. He even made room for a small vegetable garden in the alley of his home where you could always find onions, lettuce or fresh herbs to pick. He also enjoyed fishing, going to the local casinos, and taking road trips back to Arkansas to visit family and many other stops along the way. But most of all he was a family man. He spent countless years picking up grandkids from school (18 years of picking up grandkids at Grant Elementary) and taking them to get a cheeseburger or ice cream after school.

Earl is survived by his wife of 47 years, Sharon Catlett. His children; David Catlett (Deb Catlett), Kimberly Marshall (Heath Marshall), Lisa Catlett, Krista Catlett and Stephanie Peterson (Josh Peterson). He had eleven grandchildren: Jordan and Robert Christie, Joshua Jr., Madison, and Aubrey Peterson, Tisha and Christopher Smith (Molly), Spencer Vaughn (Emilie), Zachary and Jackson Callison, Ash Lee Hicks (Brad). He had five great-grandchildren, Brodie, Mia, Abigail and Benson Hicks, and the newest great-grandchild Tabitha Vaughn. His sister Ina Gail Hunt and her husband Delbert Hunt. His two sisters-in-laws, Regina Ross and Andrea Stuckey, who were more like sisters to him. And countless other family members.

Earl is preceded in death by his parents Dee and Florence Catlett, brothers, JD Catlett, Otho Catlett, Herbert Catlett, his sister Verzene Bell, his mother-in-law Lavon Hogge and brother-in-law Steven Ross.

Everyone who met him loved him. He never thought of anyone as a stranger. He was loved by so many. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. He will live forever in our memory by the stories he told, the love and life he created for his family, and his chocolate gravy!

The family would like to say a special thank you to Ayres Cremation for making a difficult time a little easier.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Earl Catlett’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.