Elizabeth Ann Cathey departed this life on December 29, 2025. Born on January 23, 1943, in the heart of Jackson, TN, to the late Wallace and Ellen Russell.
For 54 remarkable years, Elizabeth worked her magic as a hairdresser and owner of “The Hairtage Beauty Salon”. Her salon was more than a place of business; it was a local gathering spot, a place where generations of clients became friends, sharing their lives even as Elizabeth helped them look their absolute best. Her talents with scissors and dye were matched only by her ability to listen and provide solace, making her salon a sanctuary of style and heart.
The Tennessee River held a special place in Elizabeth’s life. Her love for its tranquil waters was only eclipsed by the joy she felt while fishing along its banks. Fish tales and laughter were always in ample supply during those days spent under the Tennessee sun. Elizabeth’s artistic soul was not confined to her salon; she was also a passionate painter. Working mostly with oil paints, her canvases captured the life and landscapes she cherished, each brush stroke reflecting her deep appreciation for the beauty that surrounded her.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, John Cathey, Teresa Harston (Tony), and Adam Cathey (Kayla); grandchildren, Shelley Hayes (Nick), Laurie Harston, Stephanie Slovekosky (Michael), and Ben Harston; great-grandchildren, Joel Hayes, Adelynn Hayes, Alivia Hayes, Levi Cathey, Carson Cathey, and Amelia Cathey.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, John Charles Cathey; parents, Wallace and Ellen Russell; and siblings, Dennis Russell, Claudia Lovell, Rachel Ward, and Stanley Russell.
A funeral to celebrate Elizabeth’s life will be held 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026, in the chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service. The burial will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers include Adam Cathey, Ronnie Farve, Ben Harston, Blake Lovell, Larry Lovell, and Stevie Lovell. Honorary pallbearers include: Caron Cathey and Levi Cathey.
We honor the life of Elizabeth with remembrance and gratitude. Her legacy is carried on by the lives she touched, her art, the memories of those cherished fishing trips, and most tenderly, in the faces of her great-grandbabies, who brought so much delight and pride into her life.
