Catharine Little Motley, 102, died of cancer on Jan. 29, 2022, at Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford, the home she chose for herself, and where she lived happily for 19 years. She was born Oct. 4, 1919, in Jamaica Plain, the daughter of Leon and Eleanor (Wheeler) Little. She was educated at The Winsor School in Boston, and at Vassar and Radcliffe colleges. She left college and Boston three weeks after Pearl Harbor to marry Herbert J. Motley, H'40, who was in officers' training in Denver, where they lived for two years. Her husband then went overseas for two years, serving in World War II. After the War, they moved to Nahant, MA, then to Needham, MA, where they lived 34 years. Cathy was active in the Charles River Garden Club, and "The Lunch Club," which began when the women were in their 20s and held its last meeting when they were in their 90s. She taught Sunday School and served as President of the First Parish in Needham (Unitarian Universalist). She and Herb were athletic, teaching their children swimming, sailing, skiing, skating, and tennis, and she remained agile into her old age, rowing out to rescue becalmed offspring in her 90s. After raising their children, Cathy worked in fund-raising for Winsor and for the Retina Foundation in Boston, before receiving her certification in remedial reading from Children's Hospital. She had a good instinct for child psychology, and loved Winnie the Pooh. This made her an excellent mother, and teacher in the Medway, MA, schools for 10 years, a role she cherished. In retirement, she and Herb divided their time among North Haven, ME; Nahant, MA; and Naples, FL, where she was active in the League of Women Voters, writing many letters to those in power; and in the UU Congregation. She was a gracious hostess. She spoke the King's English, telling stories until small strokes limited her language ability in her 90s. She was predeceased by her husband in 1993. Survivors include her sons, Herbert J. Motley Jr. (Teri) of Nahant, and George B. Motley (Poppy) of Sherborn; and a daughter, Eleanor Richardson (Peter) of Rockland, ME and Naples, FL; seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 5 at 11 a.m., at the Nahant Village Church, 27 Cliff St., Nahant, MA. Vax and masks required. Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88900451557?pwd=aGNEOEJiaVF1ZkgvbG5OcFZkd1JuQT09
Meeting ID: 889 0045 1557, Passcode: 12345. Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 60 Walnut St., Ste. 101B, Wellesley Hills, MA 02981.