April Michele (Jarboe) Waterman, born April 10, 1966, died in Eureka March 2, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loved ones, who will carry her with them as they live their best lives.

April’s children were the light of her life, she was deeply involved in their school and sporting events and activities, talked with them every day processing and celebrating lived experiences. April was committed to lemonade stands and sun bathing in the front yard, 1960s and 1970s music; snack shack mom at the ball field; loved times spent camping; and family gatherings.

April’s daughters adored her. To quote them “even though we will never have enough words or the perfect words to describe how much we love our mom, she had the most sacrificial, generous, and loving heart. She will always be a part of us and we will carry her love with us everywhere we go. We love her so much.” “She was a great mom, our best friend, and the light of our whole lives. She was the center of our universe, our sun. She was the best mom.”

Throughout her lifetime April made her mark, entered by her parents’ in a baby contest and winning ‘one of the cutest babies’ in Eureka, participating as one of the early Eureka Rhododendron Parade Princesses. April went to elementary schools in Eureka and Eugene, and went to North Eugene High School graduating in 1984. April attended Napa Valley Junior College and graduated from Humboldt State University in 1998.

She learned to swim on a bet with Grandma Verna and her sister, Tami, in the American River, played softball, partaking in her high school play Bye, Bye Birdie, the Debate Team, choir, and Junior Achievement. April worked all her life, she had a sharp eye for photography and worked in various photography businesses, printing businesses, as a waitress, in a bakery, as a school aide, barista at Starbucks, office manager at her dad’s business, school administrative secretary at Winship Junior High, and in the administrative offices of the Mattole Charter School and Northern United Charter Schools.

April is survived by her husband, Mark Waterman; daughters, Maya and Kara Waterman; her father and step-mother, Chet & Karen Jarboe; mother, Cathy Haley; siblings, Tami Jarboe and JoAnna Rafiner-Jarboe; nieces and nephews Josie & Jack Lauteren, Sidney and Jesse-James Rafiner-Jarboe; mother-in-law, Toni Borges; and aunts and uncles, John, Jay, Cathy, David, Cindy, and Sue; and many beloved cousins. Special gratitude to cousin Cara Heddinger and close friend Lynne Pabalate.

April was preceded in death by her brother, Chester Charles Samuel Jarboe; beloved dog Posey; grandma Florita Waterman; father-in-law Wayne Waterman; grandparents Chuck & Verna Jarboe, Rosemary Eby & Sam Hardy, Ada & Burr Fancher, David Lofts; and uncles Charles (Tam) Jarboe, Sam Hardy and Scott Lofts.

April’s family is grateful for the care and support April received from the Asante Heimann Cancer Center in Medford, Oregon, and Hospice of Humboldt Ida Emmerson Hospice House, and everyone who supported April and her family with resources, prayers and wishes. The family is having a Celebration of Life on May 30, 2025, 1 p.m., at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka. The celebration is a pot-luck gathering — favorite salads, side dishes and desserts are appreciated. Donations in April’s memory can go to Hospice of Humboldt.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of April Waterman’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.