Catherine Newton McGahey

Catherine N. McGahey, 89, of Sunrise Assisted Living in Richmond passed away on Thursday, July 5, 2018, as the result of a sudden illness. She was born November 13, 1928 to Evelyn Park Newton and Charles Hammond Newton of Alexandria, Virginia. After graduating from George Washington High School in Alexandria she attended Mary Washington College, earning her bachelor’s degree and a teaching license in 1949. She then worked as a clerk-typist for the FBI in Washington, D.C.

Her high school classmate, Lawrence F. McGahey, courted Catherine throughout her time at Mary Washington College while he served in the US Marines. The couple married on May 19, 1951 at St. Mary’s Church in Alexandria. Catherine, Lawrence, and their three young sons moved to Richmond in 1963. Once the boys were all in school Catherine began teaching at parochial schools in the Diocese of Richmond, first at Cathedral Elementary on Floyd Avenue. When that school closed in 1967 she helped staff the newly-opened St. Mary’s School on Gayton Road for several years. Catherine taught a further 12 years at St. Paul’s Elementary School on Noble Avenue until it closed, and for the next one or two years she was a substitute teacher for Henrico County public schools.

Catherine and Lawrence enjoyed the companionship of long series of memorable beagle dogs that started with “Freddy” in 1963 and ended with “Peaches” in 2014. Both Catherine and Lawrence loved spending time at the beach and built their dream getaway in Duck, North Carolina where they spent many contented hours until Lawrence passed away in 2008. Both in Richmond and Duck Catherine enjoyed tending to her garden plants, especially gardenias. In 2014 Catherine took up permanent residence at Sunrise Assisted Living.

Catherine was also preceded in death by her younger brother, Charles Hammond Newton, Jr. of Great Mills, MD. Catherine is survived by her sons Larry of Duluth, MN; Bob (Cindy) of Stuarts Draft, VA; Jim (Debbie) of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren Patrick, Alex, Katie; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation for friends and family will be from 1 to 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the Parham Chapel, Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Rd., where a funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. A committal service and burial will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery on South Washington Street in Alexandria at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. The family extends thanks to the staff of Sunrise Assisted Living for the good care and kindness they demonstrated to Catherine. Online condolences may be conveyed at www.woodyfuneralhomeparham.com.