On her popular website "Cat's House of Fun" (catay.com), Catherine Oakeson referred to herself as "the fat chick." It wasn't a putdown, but a statement of living loud and proud as a large woman. Her site showcased her artistic self portraits — some playful, some sensuous — and messages of body positivity.
"She was a size-acceptance pioneer," said Kim Julin of Crystal, a longtime friend. "She didn't let her size stop her. She just got out there and lived life and encouraged everyone to do the same."
Oakeson, who grew up in Stillwater, died last month at home in Las Vegas after a heart attack. She was 49.
An IT specialist by profession, she used her tech skills to create online resources and communities for plus-size people. She launched FatToo, a clothing resale and chat site on Facebook with more than 20,000 members, and Big Girls, Big Stuff, where she and others posted photos of themselves with quirky roadside attractions.
"She could have been a millionaire if she wanted to be," said Peter Gujer of St. Paul, another longtime friend. But she was more interested in her artwork and challenging stereotypes about plus-size people.
"She was constantly creating," said Gujer. In addition to her art photography, she also designed and sewed most of her own clothes. "She was a huge fashionista."
Her whimsical persona won fans across the country and even internationally, including a museum exhibit in Norway showcasing her self portraits. "She touched so many people," said Julin.
Oakeson, born Catherine Nordling, graduated from Stillwater High School in 1986 and later attended the University of Minnesota. She entered the IT field at a time when many professionals were self-taught, said Dave Oxley of Maplewood, a former colleague. "She was talented, took opportunity and leveraged it."