Caitlin Anne McDermott Follstad of Anacortes, WA died unexpectedly on April 9, 2024, in Anacortes, WA at the age of 41.

Caitlin was born September 28, 1982, in Kirkland, WA to Kathleen Anne McDermott. Caitlin was the fifth generation of strong first-born women in her maternal Coyne family. She grew up as Kathy's only child, but in a multigenerational home including her grandmother Margaret, a nephew, and a niece. The family moved to Anacortes in the 1980s and Caitlin spent her childhood years participating in dance; basketball and baseball in school; picnics at Washington Park; vacations to Lake Chelan and excelling in school.

After graduating from Anacortes High School in 2001, Caitlin attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, and then received her Master's Degree from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education in 2009. She later went on to earn her National Board Certification in teaching. After her Master's graduation, Caitlin became engaged to Kevin Mills Follstad, also of Anacortes, and Caitlin secured a job at Pukalani Elementary on the island of Maui. The couple moved to Kula, HI, and was embraced into the "Ohana" spirit of family that the local islanders are known for, especially by her friends at Pukalani.

On July 9, 2011, Caitlin and Kevin married at Semiahmoo in Blaine, WA, and returned home to Maui where they lived for seven years. When Caitlin became pregnant in 2016, the couple moved back to Anacortes to be closer to family.

Caitlin gave birth to her firstborn child, Fiona, on November 3, 2016. At that time, she and Kevin were living with her mother and Kathy was able to share those first six months of Fiona's life. Tragically, Kathy died on May 30, 2017. The new family stayed on at the house on "J" Avenue and Caitlin went back to teaching, first for the Burlington-Edison School District and then to Island View Elementary in Anacortes. Her second daughter, Ada Anne, made her appearance on January 18, 2020, followed by a son, Lochlann on August 27, 2021. Oh, did Caitlin love her children and embrace each of their individual personalities as they came to light. She and Kevin felt travel was important for the family, even if logistics were difficult. They took a quick trip to China with Fiona; started hiking and camping together; made trips to Canada and a cross-country road trip to the Black Hills for a Coyne Family reunion in 2022. Her passion for teaching was visible in her children's love of reading and watching Caitlin interact with them in a way that would diffuse a tantrum or snuggle into a warm embrace when that was what was needed. Cait hugged well.

English was her forte and Caitlin was a gifted writer. At one point she maintained an Instagram blog called edit34blog. In it she shared insights on being a "co-ringmaster" of three children, books she had read, travel with children, and snippets of life that she felt warranted being shared. She had a way of putting words together that made her ideas clear to any reader and with an easy flow. She also created the most beautiful and delicious cakes for her children's birthdays, which were always themed and happy celebrations.

During her tenure at Island View, she initially taught a specialized math program involving both struggling and gifted students which became especially challenging when the classroom morphed into Zoom meetings during Covid. She never knew who would attend her online class on any given day. For her last two years, Caitlin taught the fifth grade. On April 12, three days after her death, the PTSA of Island View Elementary hosted a gathering to honor Caitlin and allow the community of Anacortes to have an outlet for their grief. Many students chose to step up to the mic to talk about Cait. What was clearly voiced was that she was an impactful teacher and much loved. In her classroom, she showed vulnerability and emotion and by doing so subtly gave students the okay to do so in their lives. She sought out alternative methods for struggling students to learn and achieve in new ways and their confidence was built up. She created fun, special games on holidays that involved clues to win an ever-coveted handful of M&Ms as a prize. One student shared the hard truth that Caitlin had taught them in her death to never take life for granted.

Caitlin was predeceased by her mother, Kathleen Anne McDermott, and an aunt, Coleen McDermott. Her husband, Kevin Follstad, is missing and presumed dead.

She is survived by her daughter Fiona Anne McDermott Follstad, daughter Ada Anne McDermott Follstad and son Lochlann Garrett McDermott Follstad of Anacortes, WA; aunts Susan McDermott of Anacortes and Lee Anne McDermott of Sammamish, WA; cousins Megan (Wylie) McDermott of Anacortes and Patrick Dougherty (Benjamas of Pichit,TH) of Anacortes; Ashley Wylie of Carnation, WA, Mark Wylie of Enterprise, AL and Layla King of Anacortes, WA as well as many extended family members across the USA.

A celebration of life is planned and will be announced once a date and location have been finalized. Caitlin will be laid to rest at Grandview Cemetery in Anacortes. To share memories and to check for updates on her service, please visit www.evanschapel.com/obituary/cait-mcdermott-follstad .