Catherine Galvin Hatley

Catherine (Cathy) Galvin Hatley was born on the 4th of August 1936 in Chicago, Illinois to John Edward Galvin and Gertrude Edwards. “Data” (pronounced dey-duh) as she was called by her family in Chicago was one of eleven children: John, Norine, Marilyn, Richard “Red,” Catherine, Rita, Tom “Corky,” Jimmy, Patsy, Mary Catherine, and Michael. With so many children in the family, and growing up during hard times, one of Cathy’s favorite sayings about her childhood was, “The first one up was the best one dressed.” All those siblings also meant looking out for each other and making memories. A true Irish woman, Cathy was incredibly passionate about life and family.

Cathy’s first marriage to Joseph A. Sanchez brought her from Chicago to Dallas where they successfully raised a family of four children. During this time, she built strong bonds with the Sanchez family in Texas. Later in life, during a second marriage to Jimmie “Buzz” Hatley, Cathy shared a blended family with his and her grown children continuing to enjoy the blessings of family life. She loved her family, immediate and extended, always enjoying holidays that brought everyone together.

She was also a strong advocate for letting kids be kids. She understood how precious life is and that pushing children into adulthood cheated them of enjoying the innocence and happiness of youth. Cathy also loved having pets most notably dogs and birds. She was often known to pick up stray dogs, rescue them, and then find them good homes. It also pleased her to teach her birds to whistle and speak.

She was the embodiment of an independent, intelligent woman. She knew the value of having a voice and fiercely protected those she loved. She didn’t shy away from working the produce warehouse and loading docks at Safeway 20+ years, helping run a Dairy Queen owned by her husband and her, and managing a Braum’s later in life before taking retirement. Whether or not she intended it, Cathy became an example to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of what a strong woman should be. She knew life’s lessons well, experiencing and overcoming many hardships growing up and shared this wisdom with loved ones when their lives encountered similar difficulties.

Her hobbies included sewing, BINGO, word games like Scrabble, crosswords, planting vegetables, and reading novels by Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, or Sidney Sheldon. Surprisingly, Cathy really enjoyed the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Earlier in life, she was even known to take her turn on the dance floor being swept into a beautiful waltz, being quite the natural dancer, or even boot-scootin’ to some of her favorites: Merle Haggard, Ernest Tubb, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline and many other Country Western artists.

More often than not Cathy could be found at the kitchen table working diligently on a crossword from the newspaper while finishing her cup of coffee. If it was in the evening, she was giving the contestants on Wheel of Fortune a run for their money.

Cathy was preceded in death by Joseph A. Sanchez (spouse), Jimmie D. Hatley (spouse),Thomas Alan Sanchez (son), Larry Hatley (step-son).

She is survived by:

Children: Linda Blasiar & her husband William of Mesquite, Texas; Paul Sanchez & his wife Teresa of Arlington, Texas; John Sanchez of Lubbock, Texas; Karen Seals & her husband Robert of Porter, Texas; Paula Hatley (widow of Larry Hatley) of Burleson, Texas; Crystal Rose of Plano, Texas; Grandchildren (15): Lydia, Katelyn, Michelle, Joseph, Michael, Carissa, Cory, Britt, Payden, Rachel, Meredith, Lauren, Kendall, Katie, Megan; Great-Grandchildren (16): William, Benjamin, Hannah, Makayla, Natalie, Joseph, Alex, Allie, Easton, Corbin, Kinley, Graham, Katherine, Kyleigh, Parker, Knox