Julia Cathy

Julia Cathy, age 96, of Townsend, DE, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023. Born in Hernshaw, WV on January 7, 1927, she was a daughter of the late Watt E. Spurlock and Ethel Doris (Morgan) Spurlock. Julia spent her childhood in rural West Virginia, where she grew up alongside her 5 siblings. Later, she met Henry “Tex” Cathy in Virginia Beach and fell in love with him after they danced to Nat King Cole’s “Autumn Leaves” one August evening. They married in 1956 and eventually settled in the Stratford community of New Castle, DE, where they raised their two daughters, Dee and Patti, and she continued to live there until 2015. Julie, as she was affectionately known, was a devoted member of the church, where she both worshipped and worked. Most importantly, however, she was a devoted mother and grandmother. She retired early so that she could be an integral part of her grandchildren (MJ, Amanda, David and Billy)’s lives. She spent many weekends of her life enjoying time with them, traveling for vacations, attending their various extracurricular activities, and enjoying the everyday happenings in her daughter Patti’s home. She was an avid reader of the daily newspaper, a talented cook, and spent her later years soaking in the sun whenever it was shining, always in her sweaters and sunglasses. She also was a great-grandmother and loved to sing her favorite songs and share her favorite stories with her great-grandchildren, Dillan, Trey, Tyson, Raegan, Maverick, and Emery. In addition to her parents, Julia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Tex (1997); daughter, Dee (2002); and grandson, Billy (2011). She is survived by her daughter, Patti Wessell (Clay); grandchildren, MJ Wessell (Whitney), Amanda Pierce (Thomas), David Wessell (Grace), many nieces and nephews; and her extended family which includes her 4-legged best friends, Archie and Penny. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 275 East Main Street, Middletown, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 7:30 pm. A committal service will be held at 10 am on Friday, February 2, 2024 in the chapel of Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Julia’s name to the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Nemours Fund for Children’s Health, Shands House, 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19803.

Julia Cathy

January 7, 1927 - December 28, 2023