Obituary of Natalie Ann Fairchild

Natalie (Goulart) Fairchild passed away on April 1, 2022, at the age of 62 in Salinas California, after her 8-year courageous fight with cancer.

Natalie was born on June 24, 1959, in Monterey, CA and grew up in Moss Landing, CA. She graduated from Alisal High School in 1977. After graduating high school, she fished on the family fishing vessel. She then began working in the shop doing maintenance and parts ordering for MST for over 10 years. After MST, she was ready for a new chapter and began working for MBARI where she started as the first female deckhand on one of their research vessels. A back injury took her off the boat, so she became an administrative assistant for MBARI. While she no longer went out to sea, she always said her heart went out to sea every day for the 27 years of her service at MBARI.

Natalie was the life of the party wherever she went and always had a positive spirit. She enjoyed working in her yard, going to concerts, baseball games, watching football, and spending time with her family. She will be missed by many and touched many lives. She is survived by her daughter Christine Fairchild, her sister Christine Smith, brothers Gary (Marcy) Goulart and Leonard (Anita) Goulart, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Leonard and Irene Goulart, and brothers Stanley and Eugene Goulart. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.