Published on May 13, 2026 2:39 pm
Last Updated on May 13, 2026 2:39 pm
Henry Jay Catey, 82 years old, passed away on Saturday, May 9th, 2026, at the Cumberland Rehabilitation & Health Care facility in Greenup, IL.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday June 3, 2026, at the Barkley Funeral Chapel in Greenup with a memorial visitation from 1:00 until service time. Inurnment will be in the
Harmony Cemetery, rural Greenup, with Military Rites by the Cumberland County Veterans.
Henry was born on March 14th, 1944, to John and Irma (Hubbart) Catey and of note, he was named after his great grandfather “Big Henry” Catey who established the family farm and homestead just north of Greenup after receiving his discharge papers from service in the Civil War that notably, were signed by President Abraham Lincoln. There, Henry was raised alongside his older sister Marjorie Jane Catey Jackson, until a tragic fire burned the original Catey farm homestead and forced the family to move into town. Later, Henry attended Greenup Grade School and then Cumberland High School where he excelled both academically and in multiple sports, that included being named the Cumberland High School’s Athlete of the Year in 1962. Post graduation from Cumberland, Henry followed the path of his older sister, enrolling at Eastern Illinois University, and also earning a degree in Education, leading to a lifelong career as a teacher. During a period of great strife in our country, Henry also took voluntary leave from his first teaching position in Sullivan, Illinois, and enlisted in the US Army, where in 1968 he began service in the Fifth Battalion and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Upon discharge, Henry went back to his teaching career, taking an English teaching position at Mahomet-Seymour High School and settling in nearby Champaign, Illinois. Throughout Henry’s adulthood, he was dedicated to the teaching profession and his family, that included returning regularly to Greenup in support of his mother, Irma (after the passing of husband/father, John) and actively participating in the lives of his four nephews, Kit, Jason, Nathan, and Brandon Jackson. Henry was a great uncle that had significant influence in the lives of each of his nephews that included regularly taking them on fishing trips all over the state, teaching the fundamentals of baseball/basketball, assisting in track & field/cross country training, attending hundreds of their sporting events, and coaching several of their little league teams to championships alongside his brother-in-law, Jerry Jackson. Throughout the boys upbringing, Henry was always one of their most passionate/vocal supporters. Over his lifetime, Henry was also a very loyal and avid fan of all University of Illinois athletics, as well as the Chicago Bears, Cubs, and Bulls in which upon his retirement back to Greenup, he would regularly watch and follow them all.
Preceding Henry in death were his parents, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew, Jason Jackson. He is survived by nephews, Kit (Robin) of Hidalgo, IL, Nathan of Franklin, TN, and Brandon (Rebecca) of Greenup, IL, along with their families.
Henry will be remembered for his love of his heritage/upbringing, his commitment to the teaching profession, his voluntary service in the military during trying times, and his loyalty and devotion
to his mother, sister, and her family.
Online condolences can be expressed at www.barkleyfuneralchapels.com