Cathy Lane Hudgins

We all have a birthday and a death day. Cathy L Hudgins was born on Friday, January 17, 1958, at 9:55 am. After 67 years of life, she answered her angel's call to heaven on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 7:09 pm.

Born in the small town of Bellville, Texas, to Myrtle and Ralph Hudgins, Cathy spent most of her life in Baytown, Texas. She grew up with three older brothers so there was always a struggle for attention. One of Cathy's funniest moments to get noticed was at 7 years old. She took a hot dog weiner, cut it into small pieces on a dinner plate, went under the kitchen table and began pecking at her food while saying her name was now Hilda -The Chicken.

Cathy attended local Baytown schools and was a member of the National Honor Society and Sterling Stars Dance Team at Sterling High School. She graduated in 1976. She was a baptized member of Redeemer Lutheran Church where she completed faith confirmation classes. Cathy took elective art painting courses at Lee College while finishing her Liberal Arts Degree and became an accomplished painter.

She joined the Coast Guard after college and was stationed as far away as Scotland, later returned to Galveston and was honorably discharged at Corpus Christi in 1984. She then moved to Austin, Texas, where her older brother Steve lived. He noticed Cathy's personality was changing.

She eventually moved back home to Baytown where her Mom got Cathy some help. She was diagnosed with a mental disability known as schizophrenia and used medications to help cope with it for over 35 years.

In March 2021, Cathy fell at home and broke her left arm. She was hospitalized and later entered a nursing home for rehab. Frightened from her first time hospital stay and seven traumatic weeks at the nursing home, Cathy lost the ability to walk. Her older brother Alan decided to remove her from that dangerous environment. He took care of her at home as a bedbound patient/sister for the next four years with love and 24/7 support. Cathy's health slowly declined each year and doctors recommended hospice care which started on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

Cathy is survived by her second brother Alan Hudgins (and family) of Baytown, Texas, third brother Steve Hudgins and wife Lainey (and family) of Leander, Texas, Aunt Audrey Davis (and family) of Palestine, Texas, Uncle Larry Pfeffer [wife Lynn, deceased] (and family) of Lindale, Texas, cousins Sharon Davenport & husband Jimmy (and family) of Palestine, Texas, Brenda DeLeon & husband Henry (and family) of Hockley, Texas, Molly Escalante & husband Ryan (and family) of Magnolia, Texas and David Pfeffer & partner Christina (and family) of Victoria, Texas.

Deceased relatives include her parents Ralph and Myrtle Hudgins, first brother Bobby Hudgins, grandparents Gladys and Louis Pfeffer, and cousin Michael Davis. All of them welcomed Cathy to her new heavenly home.

A private "family-only" graveside service with military honors will be held in Earthman Memory Gardens Cemetery, in the Chapel of Chimes Mausoleum, located at 8624 Garth Rd, Baytown, Texas, 77521. The service is scheduled for July 11, 2025, at 1:00 pm.