AMHERST – Catherine F. Cray, 61, longtime resident of Amherst, NH, passed away on July 15, 2021 at her home surrounded by her loving husband, three sons, and sister.

Cathy was born on February 26, 1960, in Newton, MA, the daughter of the late Paul Leo Flynn, Sr. and Mary (Kenney) Fitzsimmons. Cathy was raised and educated in Newton, later receiving her Associate’s degree at Colby-Sawyer College, Bachelor’s degree at Merrimack College, and Master’s degree at Rivier University as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC). Cathy started her life’s work of helping adolescents at the Webster House in Manchester, NH had worked as a clinical therapist for Hollis-Brookline High School, Hollis, NH and more recently at St. Anselm College, Goffstown, NH.

Cathy was married to her best friend and loving husband, Jerry Cray, for 33 years and they made their home in Amherst, NH. Their greatest passion and joy in life was raising their three boys, Ryan, Colin, and Brendan. Cathy was an avid runner, health enthusiast, and a loved member of the community.

She was predeceased by her paternal grandmother, Catherine Flynn; sister, Lisa Flynn, and her parents Paul Leo Flynn, Sr. and Mary (Kenney) Fitzsimmons.

Family members include her husband of 33 years, Gerald E. “Jerry” Cray of Amherst, NH; three sons and daughters-in-law, Ryan and Audrey Cray of Scituate, MA, Colin and Caroline Cray of Boston, MA and Brendan Cray of Amherst, NH; a granddaughter, Heidi Catherine Cray of Scituate, MA; two brothers, Paul Flynn Jr. of Boston, MA, Ned Flynn of Wenham, MA; a sister, Deirdre Flynn-Hewett of Boston, MA; five nieces, Haley Hewett, Kelsey Hewett, Courtney Stenstrom, Catherine Solinger, and Elizabeth Flynn; and a nephew, Andrew Flynn; step-mother, Susan Flynn.

Memorial visiting hours are on Wednesday, July 21st from 4:00-7:00pm in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 11:00am in St. Patrick’s Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations in Cathy’s memory may be made to either the Webster House at 135 Webster Street, Manchester, NH 03104 or https://www.websterhousenh.org/ the Community Action for Safe Teens (CAST) of the Boys and Girls Club of Souhegan Valley/ www.svbgc.org/progams/c-a-s-t.

Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.smith-heald.com.