Catherine Dianne McConnell, born in Alexandria, Va., on March 7, 1966, passed away on Oct. 15, 2023, from cancer.
After growing up in Woodbridge, Va., Cat moved to West Virginia for college in 1984. She received her undergraduate degree in music theory and composition from WVU before going on to obtain her law degree. She was a talented cellist and bass player, and she was the Executive Director of West Virginia Senior Legal Aid for close to 25 years.
She was easily identified by her long flowing hair that she hadn’t cut in decades, wardrobe full of colorful tie dyes, and her beautiful singing voice. Cat’s many joys included The Grateful Dead, ramp dinners, her furball kitty, The Beatles, sci-fi books, general grooviness, Castlevania Symphony of the Night, porch swinging with her grandson Ollie, animal bones, the word “dude”, gardening and canning with Pappy, malty dark beers, State Park trips with the family, and peace.
She was a fierce advocate for disability rights, environmental justice, and the right to live free from religion. She was skeptical, considerate, generous, stubborn, and loving.
She was preceded in death by her father, Harrison Fargo McConnell. She is survived by so many loving family members and even more loving friends; Susan Cannon Longstreet, Olivia McConnell (Grant Hoffman), Spring Kingsley (Ken Kingsley), Alison Lytell (Jeremy Nowak), Summer Boland, Snow Jordan (Greg Jordan), Oliver Hoffman, Jordan Busker, Alan Price, Jurni Price, Dakota Kingsley, Arden Boland, and her love, Lawrence “Pappy” Flanagan Boland.
Cat is to be returned to the Earth on her property in Preston county. There will be no funeral or graveside services, instead there will be a celebration of her life at a future date to be determined.
Smith Funeral & Cremation Care of Westover/Morgantown is providing care and guidance to the family.
Condolences:
www.smithfcc.com
