Cathryn Denise Patterson

On May 4, 2022, the world became less bright as our beloved “Cat Cat” went to be with Jesus. Cathryn Denise Patterson was born in Henrietta, Oklahoma, on August 25, 1964, and passed peacefully from this life on May 4, 2022, in her home in Hillsboro, Texas. To know Cathy was to know the perfect embodiment of humanity. She spent her whole life serving others and was often referred to as an “Angel on Earth.” Cathy lived her life selflessly, and she was always ready to help anyone at any time. She will be greatly missed by many.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 8, 2022, at Walnut Street Baptist Church, 100 Walnut Hill Ave., Hillsboro, TX 76645.  Visitation will begin at 1:30 p.m. prior to service time at the church.  Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 9, at Greenwood Funeral Home and Cemetery in Fort Worth.

Cathy grew up in White Settlement, Texas, and graduated from Brewer High School in 1982.  She went to San Angelo State University and then transferred to Texas Christian University to obtain her Bachelor’s degree. She earned her Master’s degree in School Administration from Tarleton State University and her Superintendent certification from Texas Tech University.  Her positive leadership style made a huge impact on so many.

Cat began her 30 year education career as a P.E. teacher in Port Aransas in 1988. She arrived at Hillsboro ISD in 2008 to become Principal of the junior high. She remained there until her retirement in 2019. Her years at Hillsboro Junior High were some of her favorites. She created a campus culture on her campus that compares with no other. She was the glue that held this campus together, and the many friendships and bonds that were created during these years will remain forever.

Cathy was truly a life-long educator. Throughout her career, she befriended and mentored many people. She worked to build confidence in others and to help them grow into their best selves. It was her passion to help others, especially her students and staff. She spent countless hours working with students of all ages, and it was not unusual to see her on a late-night grocery or clothing run to buy things her students needed. Cathy always put others first and was a very positive person. Many of her friends, family, and students say that she is the most positive person they have ever met. One of Cat’s favorite memories of her career was attending cross country meets and feeding her students from the trunk of her car. This made for an abundance of quality interaction for her and her students. Cat strived to feed her students and teachers physically, emotionally, and academically. From coaching to serving as a principal, she treated all her students as if they were her own children. Even in her retirement, she never stopped caring for the children in her community, volunteering in her community, making to-do lists for Dale, enjoying the grandchildren, great nieces, great nephews, her 3 dogs…oh and yes… her 2 donkeys.

Cathy was awarded the 2022 Hillsboro ISD Lifetime Achievement Award. She was an Education Foundation Board Member, and despite her illness, she was always willing to help and was an integral part of the Foundation team. She will be greatly missed by many.

Cathy and her husband, Dale, have 3 children (Bre, Brittany, and Braden) and 8 grandchildren (Skylar, Quinn, Kaysen, Omari, Florien, Zealand, Kambree, and Maize).  Cathy was always ready for an adventure…whether it was scuba diving in Mexico, shopping, or ice cream with the grandkids! There was no limit to her love. Everyone was her family, and she was everyone’s Cat Cat. She adored her grandkids and great nieces/nephews. They were her world.

Cathy is preceded in death by her father and mother, Ronald and Marellen Patterson; her infant sister, Shebra Rene; her maternal grandparents, H.H. Perry and Omar and Mattie McMurtery; and her paternal grandparents, Raymond and Theola Patterson. She is survived by her husband, Dale Snyder; brother, Raymond Patterson and sister-in-law, Tammy; aunt, Darlene Templeton and husband, John; uncle, Danny Priest; her grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends.

Cathy would always want us to remember when we are struggling to find the sunshine….we must be the sunshine!

In lieu of flowers, her family requests (and Cathy would have loved this) for donations to go to the following services that benefit children: Cathryn D. Patterson Memorial Scholarship Fund Hillsboro ISD, 121 East Franklin, Hillsboro, TX 76645; Boys and Girls Club of Hill County -Website: bgchillcounty.org, Venmo: @BGCHC-HillCo, or Check to P.O. Box 554, Hillsboro, TX 76645; or The White Settlement Retired School Employees Association, Attn: Gloria Long, 2916 Cortez, Fort Worth, TX 76116.