Martha Joan Cathey

With great sadness Martha Cathey passed away quietly, on the morning of June 15, 2025, in Fairfield, Iowa.

Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 27, 2025 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield with Rev. John Kermott officiating. Burial will be at Wright Cemetery in Fairfield. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Friday. Memorials may be made to EveryStep Hospice or First Baptist Church.

Martha was born December 3, 1935 in Fairfield to Col. John and Elvena (née Hunt) McIntire. Martha worked as an ER nurse in Iowa and earned her Undergraduate and Master’s degrees in education. She especially cherished working with special Ed students and taught in both California and Texas. Teaching has been her life’s work and passion. She taught close to 40 years and was continually moved by the progress of all her students and felt blessed by the many lives she touched.

Martha was united in marriage to Anwar H. Zainal for 23 years and a dedicated mother to Farid A. Zainal (Farashta), Christine Zainal, and Angela J. Zainal (Yanni). Martha has five, deeply loved grandchildren, Antonio, Demitri, Christopher Anwar, Imad and Farrah. Martha has had many relatives, beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her siblings Regina (Don) and Fred (LaRue).

Martha married again later in her life to Frank Cathey from Fairfield,

Iowa. Martha lived and split her time between Fairfield, Iowa and McAllen, Texas. She always possessed an intellectual curiosity and thoroughly loved reading and learning about different lands, cultures, and people. In her younger years she was described as shy but after years of teaching and traveling she became an extravert. Martha was often described as “not knowing a stranger”. She had a bold sense of humor and a real love of gardening. The words that best describe

Martha are mother, grandmother, nurse, teacher, strength, endurance, courage, humble, independent, and intelligent.

Throughout Martha’s life, she has professed her deep devotion to God and her unyielding faith in his love. She started each day with her daily devotions and spent hours in prayer. Martha’s greatest qualities were her hope and optimism. She believed that tomorrow would bring greater promise and a brighter future. Besides her love of God and family, Martha would most want to be remembered for this.