Katie Spikes was a respected CBS News and 60 Minutes producer noted for her ability to secure interviews with famous personalities such as former President Obama. She died on 25 July 2023, at 53, after a five-year battle with cancer.
Spikes started her career at CNN in 1996 as a producer for Larry King Live. She joined CBS News in 2003 as a producer for 60 Minutes. She quickly ascended the ranks, becoming a senior story editor and guest coordinator.
Spikes was well-known for her ability to land interviews with high-profile guests. She produced the 60 Minutes interview with Barack Obama in 2008, one of the show’s most-watched interviews. She has interviewed celebrities such as Michael Lewis, Joaquin Phoenix, and Tony Bennett.
Spikes was a treasured CBS News colleague and friend. She was well-known for her sense of humour, dedication to her work, and love of journalism. Everyone who knew her will miss her terribly.
Katie Spikes Obituary
SPIKES–Katharine. Katharine Alma Spikes, 53, died quietly on July 25, 2023, in her home in Westfield, NJ, after a lengthy fight with cancer. She was raised in Larchmont, New York, after being born in New York City to Dr. James L. and Judith Doolin Spikes. Tweets from the CBS Evening News, which you can view here, are also included-
We here at CBS News have lost a member of our family. Longtime @60Minutes and @CBSNews producer Katie Spikes has died following a five-year battle against cancer. Katie was a talented producer, a beloved colleague, mentor and friend. pic.twitter.com/j0vNJPTLZO
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) July 27, 2023
She resided in New York and Jersey City after college until relocating to Westfield in 2011. Katie earned her bachelor’s degree from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio. She began her long and distinguished career in television right out of college, first on the CBS News overnight shift and then as a talent producer for CNN’s Larry King Live in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.
She returned to CBS News in 1997, where she went on to become an Emmy-winning producer and Senior Story Editor at “60 Minutes.” Katie was a beloved coworker, mentor, and friend whose excellent judgment, constant optimism, and timeless knowledge touched the lives of everyone who knew her. She loved being outside with her family and friends, whether skiing in Vermont, hiking in the woods with her beloved dog Splash, or swimming at Barnegat Light.
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Katie was a longtime Westfield Historic Preservation Commission member interested in historic preservation. Katie is survived by her husband, Donald E. Furrer; her two sons, James Joseph Furrer and Owen Doolin Furrer; her stepson, Brandon Scott Furrer; her parents, Judith Doolin Spikes and Dr James L.
Spikes; her sister, Sarah Spikes; and many cherished nieces, nephews, colleagues, and friends. On Monday, July 31st, at 10 a.m., a memorial service will occur at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 414 E. Broad St., Westfield, NJ. Donations in her memory may be donated to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
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