Ms. Cathryn Fern Reaves

Before The Beatles sang, “Here comes the sun,” Claude Halton Reaves and Charlotte Noby Reaves welcomed their own little sunshine into this world. Carried by the blazing rays of the Texas heat in Falls County, Texas on June 30, 1949; Cathryn Fern Reaves shined into existence. A true lover of nature. Caught somewhere between spring and summer, Cathy was the embodiment of the nature she loved so much. Calm like the breeze on her back porch, vibrant like the blooms in her yard, grounded firmly like the trees, warm like the sun, and graceful like the water on the lake she loved so much. The second of five children, Cathryn, would burn brightly; growing into a fun, smart, adventurous, and independent woman. Of the five children, Cathy would be a second mom to them. Fiercely loyal and loving, Cathy stood as a shining example to her siblings and colleagues alike. A mixing pot of the best traits; Cathy could be kayaking in a lake, traveling to Russia, enjoying a good book, using her technological prowess to win one of her four Emmy awards, spending time with family, hording the Key Lime Pie, or cheering on her favorite teams- the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Texas Rangers. Cathy had two remarkable careers, each shaped by her own choices and on her own timeline. In the 1970s and early 80s, she built life as a full-time, stay-at-home mother, putting the same creativity and leadership into parenting that others poured into board rooms- whether she was leading PTA work, running Girl Scouts, or sewing Halloween costumes from scratch. Later, in the mid- 1980s, she returned to school, earned a degree in video production, and began a second career in educational media. She would lead the video production department for Dallas ISD for over twenty years going on to become a four-time Emmy-winning Producer and Director. With no shortage of success, Cathryn, known lovingly as Cathy, GrandCat, daughter, or sister, was most proud to be called Mother. Of all her adventures and accolades, Cathy would proclaim her daughter, Jennifer Rhea Brunjes, to be her crowning achievement. Her twin flame, she found no greater joy than laughing at Jenn’s jokes and classic “clumsy” moments, and enjoying their time together. A classic, high-pitched, exasperated cry of “JENN!” will forever live on in our memories proceeded by a chorus of laughter. As a bonus, Cathy was gifted, Scott Belfanti, her favorite son-in-law who shared her love of all things Jenn, outdoors, and a passion for the “best” cookie. To her, he would be a son, and a valued friend. As the sun reaches high into the sky, spreading its warmth across the lake, so too did Cathy share her love for her siblings to their children and theirs; a love that would span generations. While Cathy was the second born, she was always a leader. With a significant age gap between the two oldest and the three youngest, Cathy and her older sister, Claudia Toye, were raised as two opposing peas in a pod; their personalities opposite but complimentary of each other. Emblazoned in our memories will be their typical sister clashing with, “you’re pissing me off!” To the three younger siblings, Cathy would be a second mom. Eight years older than her only brother, Lee Heflin Reaves, 11 years older than her sister, Chrystal Ann Sabella, and 16 years older than her baby sister, Carey Colleen Reaves. Fiercely protective Cathy would support, cheer-on, and keep her siblings in line. She was the type of sister to enroll her siblings on college and then drag them there. A sister they relied on for advice, comfort, and care. The kind of sister who would hold your hand or kick you in the butt. Like the heat of the sun, she matched her mischievous brother, Lee, when she used a radio show to convince her younger siblings that she was an actual alien! She was a partner-in-crime to her younger sister, Chrystal, as they schemed new adventures throughout their lives. They added another partner to their antics with her favorite brother-in-law, Kenneth Sabella. Cathy loved to tell a camping story, where Kenneth’s snoring caused the entire campground to move their tents away covertly in the night. She enjoyed new adventures with her younger sister, Carey; exploring Hawaii together, and creating memories she would cherish long after Carey’s premature passing. She loved her siblings and the large bonus family they gave her. Adding to her success, Cathy cherished her nieces and nephews. She was the “cool” aunt before there was a shirt! Unforgettable Christmases, vacationing to New Braunfels with her first niece, Mary Ballard, and taking on Mary’s senior year together were highlights in Cathy’s life. Taking trips, going to concerts, and playing games with all her nieces and nephews: Mary Ballard, Kenneth J. Sabella II, Brodie J. Sabella, Kaitlan Brady, Kaity Reaves, Rebekah Reaves, Emily Reaves, and Sara Marshall made her radiate happiness. As the sun began to sink over the horizon, Cathy’s warmth glowed brightly with the love for her great nieces and nephews. GrandCat was the best bonus grandmother to Bradford and Lauren Ballard; Kate, Kenneth, and Ryan Sabella; Tatem Sabella; and Isabella Bagley, Ashton and Nate Brady. Like the lake Cathy loved so much, her life was one of beauty, love, and adventure. As such we fondly remember her light, her elegance, her confidence, her calm-presence that could turn incendiary at one Cowboys interception. We remember the teenager who stole the show water-skiing. The mother who took her daughter in outdoor adventures. The sister walking the beaches of Hawaii. The GrandCat watching the birds and the lake from her back porch. The woman with a huge heart and a brilliant mind. The kind of woman who could smile sweetly while placing a domino out of turn. At the heart of it, Cathy’s life reflects what women’s empowerment in her generation truly meant: not choosing between family and ambition, but claiming the right to pursue both- fully, proudly, and guided by a grace and elegance all her own. She was and will always be one of a kind. We celebrate her as she departed this life November 22, 2025 to join her sister Carey Reaves; and her father and mother, Claude and Charlotte Reaves, on her next adventure. We will always remember you, caught somewhere between spring and summer, overlooking the lake. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com

Ms. Cathryn Fern Reaves

June 30, 1949 - November 22, 2025