Carlene Cathey Hovis, 88, of Blacksburg, joined her Heavenly family on Sunday, March 5, 2017. She died peacefully at Lewis Gale Hospital – Montgomery after a short illness. Born Feb. 8, 1929, in Charlotte, North Carolina, she grew up in the Smyre Mill community in Gaston County, North Carolina and was the daughter of the late Allen and Lundy Cathey.
She was also preceded in death by her brother, Boyt Cathey; sister-in-law, Mary Grace Cathey; nephew, Stephen Cathey; and niece, Miriam Cathey Darby.
Survivors include her husband, Pascal, of 63 years of marriage; daughter, Cathey Bassett; son-in-law, Joe Bassett; and grandson, Riley Bassett; sisters-in-law, Lunett Auten and Peggy Hovis; nephews, Bob Cathey, Tim Hovis and James Hovis; and grand-nephew, Aaron Darby. Many of her cousins are also still living.
Carlene graduated from Gastonia High School and was a graduate of Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina (now UNC-G). Following college, she taught elementary school children in Albermarle, North Carolina while Pascal served in the United States Army in Korea.
After marrying, she taught in Creedmore, North Carolina while Pascal attended Wake Forest College, and they made their first home in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Pascal, Carlene and their only child, Cathey, moved from Hickory, North Carolina to Jamestown, North Carolina in 1970.
While there, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January 2004. To be closer to Cathey and her family, they moved to Blacksburg in 2008. Carlene taught English as a second language to students from foreign countries at Blacksburg Baptist Church. To quote a friend, “She was a superb teacher. . . with a twinkle in her eye.”
Carlene was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She dearly loved her family and never met a stranger. She never had an unkind word for anyone, did not know how to be angry, and looked for the best in everyone.
A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 9 at Blacksburg Baptist Church, 550 North Main St. in Blacksburg. Following the service, there will be a procession to the graveside at Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery, 5550 Bagging Plant Road in Dublin.
Memorial contributions may be made to Land of Promise Capital Campaign, Blacksburg Baptist Church, or to First Baptist Church of Jamestown, PO Box 788, Jamestown, NC 27282.
