James Howell Cathey

September 14, 1935 - September 3, 2014

Mr. James Howell Cathey, Sr., 78, passed away Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 2:00 PM from the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the family cemetery, A Little Bit of Texas, near their Seavy Hight home. The family will receive friends for visitation on Friday, September 5, 2014 from 5:00 until 7:00 PM at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Jim was born on September 14, 1935 in Fordyce, Arkansas, to the late Noel Howell Cathey, Sr., and the late Carrie Maude Owens Cathey. Following high school he joined the United States Army and briefly served his country. In April 1956 he married the love of his life: Patsy Elaine Brock. Jim was a member of the Parkview Baptist Church in Lewisburg for many years. He was a plumbing and mechanical contractor in Houston, TX for 25 years, where he served as the Local President of the APHCC and served on the union arbitration board for several years with Local Plumbers and Pipefitters Union 68. From 1972 to 1983, Jim worked in Ryiadh, Saudi Arabia where he was instrumental in building the first army camp. He also worked in the mountains of Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, above Mecca and in Jeddah, building summer palaces and structures for members of the Saudi Royal Family. In addition to his wife of 58 years, Patsy, he is survived by his children: James H. Cathey, Jr. and Rene' of Houston, TX; Cheryl Ann Cathey-Waters of Houston, TX; Crystal Lee Clark Witter and Nathan Edward of Columbia, TN and Larry Don Clark, Jr., of Columbia, TN; seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a son: John Lawrence Cathey; a daughter: Charlene Cathey; as well as his three brothers and three sisters. Pallbearers will be: James Howell Cathey, III; Lauren Marie Cathey; Larry Don Clark, Jr.; Nathan Edward Witter; James Alfred Anderson; and Davis "Buddy" Stone. Honorary Pallbearers will be: James Howell Cathey, Jr.; Steven J. Lambers; and Gerald Wayne Raulz, Jr.