Shirley Cathey Toon

          Mrs. Shirley Cathey Toon, age 86, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at the Murray-Calloway County Hospital.

            Mrs. Toon, the youngest of five children, was born on December 25, 1936, in Model, Tennessee to the late Lonnie A. Cathey and Bertie Spiceland Cathey. She later moved to Murray, Kentucky where she lived for the majority of her life. Mrs. Toon attended Lincoln College and Murray State University where she received her master’s in education. Mrs. Toon was a schoolteacher for over thirty-five years, teaching first grade in the Murray School District for most of that time, and continued to volunteer in classrooms, helping students with their reading thereafter. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky, where Mrs. Toon volunteered her time teaching vacation Bible school and Sunday School. Mrs. Toon also enjoyed her time working with the Theta Department of the Murray Woman's Club, riding her bike in the neighborhood, spending time with her friends at the Murray-Calloway County Senior Citizens Center and sharing her love of books with her great grandchildren.

            In addition to her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by two sisters, Ruth Bailey and Evelyn Lockhart; as well as one brother, Gene Cathey.

            Survivors include her husband of sixty-five years, Bobby Toon of Murray, Kentucky; one daughter, Shara Olivier and husband Mike Olivier of San Diego, California; one brother, J.W. Cathey of Murray, Kentucky; one sister-in-law, Marilyn McCuiston of Murray, Kentucky; three grandchildren, Jacqueline Brown and husband Nathan Brown of San Diego, California, Caroline Olivier of Los Angeles, California, and Stephen Olivier of Dallas, Texas; three great-grandchildren, Cameron Brown, Miles Brown, and Faith Brown; as well as several nieces and nephews.

            A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Rev. Boyd Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Murray City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

            In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the MISD Foundation For Excellence, P.O. Box 1417, Murray, Kentucky 42071 for the future establishment of a scholarship honoring Mrs. Toon’s thirty plus years of service to the Murray Independent School District.