Judith Anne Murray Cathey

Judith Anne Murray Cathey, 78,  passed away peacefully on March 11, 2022, in Cary, NC.  She was born in Raleigh, NC, on April 10, 1943 to Margaret Pauline and Avern Leslie “Dobin” Murray.  She was blessed with an older brother and a younger brother.  She naturally took on the role of being their second mother, and regularly spent her time and craftiness keeping them out of trouble.  She graduated from Broughton High School in 1962, where she was a member of Y Teens and FBLA.  Judy married Robert “Bob” Eckoles Cathey, Jr. on December 31, 1962.

While living in western North Carolina with Bob, Judy took on the role of a farmer’s wife.  She simultaneously helped with farming, cooked for workers, raised three kids, grew strawberries, kept the house looking great and supplied love and kindness to all who met her.  She was known to be as “stout as a mule” in the field and “as lovely as a yellow rose” in her home, where she welcomed all visitors with hospitality, lively conversation and plenty of good food.  After settling with Bob and her three kids in Hendersonville, Judy worked at Looking Glass Optical as the office manager for 21 years.

During her retirement, she was involved with her Sunday school class and many close friends at Fruitland Baptist Church.  Judy always put her family first.  With her beautiful smile, she spent countless hours hugging, loving and carefully guiding the four grandchildren who affectionately call her “Grandmommy”.  Her strength will be greatly missed, but this strength and wisdom will live-on within her children and grandchildren.

Judy was preceded in death by her husband of forty years.  Bob has been waiting for her patiently, and will undoubtedly greet her with a loud “Judy!”  She is survived by her three children: Julie Leechford (Wayne) of Raleigh, Robert E. Cathey III (Krista) and Jennifer Hummel (Rob) both of Apex, NC.  She leaves behind two siblings: brothers Avern Leslie Murray Jr. of Hernando, MS and James Darnell Murray of Raleigh; a dear nephew: Avern Leslie Murray III (Annette) of Raleigh; four grandchildren Brittany Feezor (Hunter), Zachary and Maddie Cathey, El Hummel; and a great grandson Cole Feezor.

Judy would ask that you be more kind and patient than you could even imagine.  We know it is possible because she showed us how to do it.

A funeral service will be held at 11am on Thursday, March 17th, 2022, at Fruitland Baptist Church of Hendersonville with Rev. Craig Stepp officiating; a visitation will be held one hour prior. A graveside service will be held at later that day at 2pm at the Bethel Community Cemetery in Waynesville, North Carolina.

The family requests that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to CAMS-Haiti, PO Box 111 Hendersonville, NC 28793 http://www.cams-haiti-revis.com/.

Arrangements are in the care of Shuler Funeral Home of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

The post Judith Anne Murray Cathey appeared first on Shuler Funeral Home.