Buna Lyndell (Tivis) Cathey April 17, 1937 ~ November 11, 2023 (age 86)

Funeral services for Buna Cathey, 86, of Portales will be held at 10:00 AM, Thurs., Nov. 16, 2023 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Wesley McAfee officiating, assisted by Rev. John Combs.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with T. J. Cathey, Cade Cathey, Luke Cathey, Asher Kinsey, Brian Cathey and Billy Cathey serving as pallbearers.  All her other family members and friends will serve as honorary pallbearers.  Mrs. Cathey will be available for visitation until service time.

Buna Lyndell was born April 17, 1937, to Bill and Lyndell Tivis, near Hiway NM.  She was named after her mother and a neighbor, Buna Thomas, who helped deliver her, in their home.

At 2 ½ years old Buna was diagnosed with polio.  From the time she was 6 years old until her teenage years, she would spend a few months at a time at Carrie Tingley Hospital in Truth or Consequences, where she received specialized care, therapy, and surgery on her lower legs and feet.  Buna never let the physical effects of polio define or defeat her.  She attended school at Highway through the 6th grade until they consolidated with Dora.  She graduated as valedictorian from Dora High School in 1955.

She met Bobby Wayland Cathey in 1954, after he has served his country during the Korean War.  They dated her senior year and were married November 27, 1955, at the Milnesand Baptist Church where she had attended all her life.  Bob and Buna made their home in the Pep Community where they spent most of their married life.  Bob farmed and ranched while Buna was a homemaker for the first several years of their marriage.  She had a strong faith and trust in God and was a devoted wife and mother to their children.  Buna taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, GA’s (Girls in Action), and other classes at church.  She became Postmaster at the Pep Post Office in 1975 and then later became Postmaster at Dora.  She retired in 2003 after 27 years in the Postal Service.

Buna spent countless hours sharing her faith through writing letters, giving Bibles, and praying for others.  Her love of Jesus overflowed to her family and friends.  Many lives were touched by Buna’s love and faith in God.  She enjoyed reading, doing embroidery, and in her later years coloring, but not as much as spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Buna passed from this life to her heavenly home on November 11, 2023, at Corando Care Center and was preceded in death by her parents, sister Mildred Hill, brothers W.T. and Delbert, and husband Bobby Cathey.

She is survived by her daughter, Julie of Portales, her son, Billy (Joeli) of Dora, and her son, Dusty (Tanis) of Pep; 7 grandchildren, T.J. (Courtney) Cathey, Amber (Ty) Rivers, Cade Cathey, Autumn (Russell) Anderson, Rachael (Thomas) Anderson, Sky (Lucas) Buchanan, and Luke Cathey; and 14 great-grandchildren.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Buna Lyndell (Tivis) Cathey, please visit our floral store.