Anthony Cathey, Sr.

Anthony Rondal Cathey, Sr., 59, of Pflugerville, Texas, passed away on May 6th, 2020, surrounded by family.  He was born to parents Joyce Cathey and Johnny Piper, on February 26, 1961 in Elgin, Texas. Tony attended Elgin Public Schools and graduated in 1978.

Tony accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Elgin, Texas.

Tony was married to his loving wife Mary Alice Rene for almost 18 years.  He had three children from a previous marriage and also had one stepdaughter.

In the Spring of 1980, Tony enlisted in the United States Army where he served faithfully for many years, including posts in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and Augsburg, Germany. After the military, Tony worked for Texas Instruments until a layoff provided him with an opportunity for a career change.  He earned his CDL license and drove different types of trucks for his entire career, spending the most time at Allied Waste, where he resided for sixteen years.  Most of his spare time was spent “fixing” things.  He could truly fix anything, taking something damaged or broken to make it like new, which he truly enjoyed. For those who knew him, he was “Mr. Fix It” or “Handy Andy”, always available to help with an appliance, an automobile, or just about anything with moving parts.

But even more important than the things Tony did, were the things that he was. His military background helped shape how he raised his kids…strict, but fair; a provider, but with a lesson. He considered himself a blue-collar family man, someone that always had money in his pocket but made sure you understood the value of that money. Anthony was honest, serious, and hardworking, but also loved joking around, cutting up, and holding court in his living room with anyone that visited. If you came to the Cathey house, you may look up and find that a 10-minute visit has stretched into a few hours.

Tony had a number of passions, but racing and fixing cars fell right at the top of that list. When he had free time, you could find him at the Little River Dragway, racing his Camaro, helping others with their cars, or just being a spectator to the sport he loved so much. He was the type of competitor that would fix your car, and then beat you on that quarter mile. Tony also enjoyed watching drag racing on Tv, Denzel Washington movies, Tyler Perry movies, the Philadelphia Eagles, rooting against the Cowboys, boxing, golf on Sundays (especially Tiger Woods), and Sunday dinners with Rene’s home cooking and the family.

He is preceded in death by his parents Joyce Cathey and Johnny Piper.

Anthony Rondal Cathey, Sr. leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife, Mary Alice Rene Cathey; His siblings: Rita Akinlabi (Hakeem) of Waxahachie, Texas, Jamie Cook (Nathaniel) of Del Valle, Texas and Hayward Reed (Rosetta) of Wichita, Kansas His children: Tasha Kelly (Russel) of Dallas, Anthony R. Cathey, Jr. (Maria) of Manor, Texas, Roslyn Cathey (Joeray), Nichelle Blount His nephew: Chris Dove (Isela) of Austin His grandchildren: De’anthony Cathey, Saniya Rivera, Joeray Rivera Jr., Nevaeh Rivera, Preston Kelly, Trayson Baldwin, Myles Kelly, Jevalyn Rivera, Kamyrn Aekins and Madalyn Kelly coming soon in July; and a host of Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews and other relatives and friends.

His casket will lie in state at Winn’s Memorial Missionary Baptist Church of Elgin, on Tuesday, May 12th from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM.  A private Home-Going Celebration will be conducted graveside at Winn's Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, Wednesday, May 13th at 11:00 AM with the Reverend D.W. Townsend presiding.