Updated: 5/28/20

Murph Thesing Cathcart (Big Daddy), 86, of Brentwood, Tennessee passed away peacefully on May 26, 2020 after a brave nine month fight with acute myeloid leukemia. Born November 21, 1933, in Mt. Pisgah, Tennessee, Murph was the third child and only son of Claude and Ella Lee Cathcart. Murph was a large man with an even bigger personality. Loved for his big heart and generous spirit, he was well known for his greeting of "Hi Neighbor!", boisterous laugh and large circle of friends. Murph never met a stranger. He always had a good story to tell and every meal was the best he ever had.

Murph graduated from Giles County High School in 1952 and was drafted into the U.S. Navy shortly thereafter. He was the mailman on the USS Leyte where he took full advantage of the opportunity to travel the world. After the Navy, he sold insurance for Life & Casualty Insurance in Nashville and soon moved to Memphis. It was while selling door to door in 1958 that he saw a photo of the love of his life and asked her mother for her number. Three months later they were married and moved back to Nashville to start their life together. Murph bought his first Western Auto franchise in 1961 and added a second location in Ashland City in 1974, which he later renamed Cathcart Home Center. He was an active member of the Al Menah Shrine where he served the Nashville community in their clown unit. Murph spent his retirement spoiling his grandchildren, hosting catfish dinners, singing with the Judson Jewels and working with children in the AWANA program at Judson Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and greeter for 49 years. He was diagnosed with AML on September 11, 2019 and volunteered for a clinical research trial at Sarah Cannon. 

Survived and greatly missed by Betty, his devoted wife of 61 years; their three daughters Connie Cathcart-Richardson and her husband Eddy, whom he thought of as his son; Karen Cathcart Russell and her husband Paul (Columbia, South Carolina); Christy Cathcart Smith and her husband Jason; beloved grandchildren Mclaine Richardson, Caleb Smith, Jacob Smith and Jared Smith; his sisters Peggy Bass (Pulaski) and Faye Norwood (Tuscumbia, Alabama); as well as many nieces, nephews and a long list of friends. Murph was preceded in death by his parents and his oldest sister Delores Hardin (Pulaski). There will forever be a Murph size hole in all of our hearts.

Since a large group gathering is not currently possible, but well deserved, the family invites friends and family to write their favorite Murph stories to share with them at a drive-by visitation at Judson Baptist Church, 4900 Franklin Road (Please enter from Lambert Drive entrance),  between 12-2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30 and then go gift someone an unexpected act of kindness to celebrate this special man. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to support research at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Sarah Cannon Fund at the American Cancer Society and/or donate blood to the American Red Cross in Murph's honor.