William Johnson “Coach” Cathey, Jr. passed away February 14, 2022, at his home on Main Street in Rosman, where he was most comfortable. This was his wish.
Mr. Cathey was born on May 21, 1933, in Buncombe County and was raised in Skyland, NC. He was the son of William Johnson Cathey, Sr. and Edythe Blythe Cathey. He married Miss Juanelle Randolph of Cane River, NC in the summer of 1953. They were married for 67 years. He is survived by his son, Samuel Cathey (Mary Kay), and his daughter, Cindy McCall (Michael), his grandchildren and great grandchildren, his sister, Mrs. Rachel Daniels, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Juanelle, his son, William Cathey III, and his daughter, Sara Anne Cathey.
Mr. Cathey was Papa to eight grandchildren. They are Nathan McCall (Erin), Jessica McCall, Blythe McCall (Heather), Drew Cathey (Raven), Arthur Cathey (Samantha), Ann Cathey, Mary Juanelle Cathey (Chris), and Liam Cathey. He was also Papa to his great grandchildren, Alex and Maddie McCall, Bay and Miriam Funderburk, Daylan McCall, Ben and Maxwell Cathey, Hayden Jenkins, Ares Pinero, and Julian Chucci.
He began his education at Valley Springs School. He went on to graduate from Ben Lippen Scholl in Asheville, in 1951, where he played baseball and basketball, and excelled in football. He attended Gardner Webb College and was an outstanding defensive member of the football team there. He completed his undergraduate college years at East Tennessee State University and then began is teaching, coaching and school administrator career. He later earned a Masters in Education from Western Carolina University.
Bill and family moved to Rosman in 1958. He began teaching at Rosman High School and soon after started the first football program at RHS. Coach had many happy and exciting memories of working with these first Rosman football student athletes. In addition, he was always proud to recall that during these years he coached the undefeated1969 RHS Lady Tigers varsity basketball team.
He was principal at TC Henderson Elementary School and later moved to Rosman High School to be the principal there. He often said his work as an educator was “all about the kids” and he meant it. He cared deeply about the young people and families of the Rosman community and did everything he could to be an advocate for their educational opportunities. He retired after many years as an educator and then was honored to be elected to serve on the Transylvania County School Board. He very much believed in the importance of keeping Rosman High School in the Rosman community and he did everything he could to work toward that goal. Many people heard him speak of his high regard for the RHS Tiger students and the Rosman community by saying “my blood runs orange” and he meant that as well. Coach Cathey was honored in 2016 when the RHS football field was dedicated and named in his honor. He was deeply appreciative of being recognized in this way.
He was elected Mayor of the Town of Rosman in 1973 and served until 1977. He later served a shorth interim term as well. He helped develop a new water and sewer system to meet the needs of the town for years to come.
Retirement years were filled with travel for Coach and Juanelle. They travelled all over the USA and world, sometimes taking a son, daughter, or a grandchild or two along. He enjoyed treating the family to a weeklong trip to the beach every summer. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren, who were happily in and out of his home throughout their growing-up years. They sure loved their Papa. During these years, he could often be found working in his garden or walking his route up and down the New Cut and through town. He very much liked to go to the lake and was an avid fisherman. He loved to shop and was especially fond of a good bargain.
The Cathey family would like to thank his many friends in the Rosman Community and beyond for the loving support given to him and to us in these last months of Coach’s life. We would like to thank Brenda “Mimi” Mahoney for the many years of love and help. We would like to thank Sam Fuller of Sam’s Home Care and his team of caregivers for all they did for him. We would like to thank Charlene Chappell of Four Seasons Hospice for her compassionate expertise. All of you helped him and his family achieve what he most wanted, which was to be at home with the people he loved and who loved him.
No services are planned at this time. If anyone would like to make a gift in his honor, we would ask you to please consider a gift to Rosman High School.
He was Cathey, Dad, Father, Papa, Coach, Bill, Mr. Cathey. He was well loved and will be dearly missed.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com