Caitlin Margaret Bray

Caitlin Margaret Bray (Caty), age 33, passed away at her home in Hidden Hills, Jacksonville, Florida on June 29, 2016. She is the beloved daughter of Margaret "Peggy" Bray and David Michael Bray Sr. (father predeceased); younger sister to D. Michael Bray Jr. (Lindsay); loving mother of Chad Michael Kirby; grandaughter of Lester & Margaret Bies, and Albert & Imogene Bray. Fun loving Aunt Caty will certainly be missed by niece Leighton & nephew Michael, as she had an amazing connection with children and always had them mesmerized. As a 4-year-old, her dad recognized her beautiful spirit and warned that we must guard it from ever being crushed. Caty was raised in the Catholic Church and attended Bishop Kenny High school, but at age 5 decided she enjoyed attending services of different faiths with her friends which made me smile as her non-judgmental attitude was declared. Because she saw the good in everyone, she was trusting to a fault. Her 3rd grade teacher named her the peacemaker and happily said vengeance was not in Caty's character. Teacher was right, as she was put to the test many times through her life. She could engage in conversation with anyone, and made sure she left them with spirits lifted and a "God bless." That smile of hers could melt a heart of stone. Genuinely sweet, her compassion was a great comfort to many. I often felt she supported others more than herself with uncurbed enthusiasm. Her exuberance was contagious and I will miss her spontaneous dancing (wow did she have rhythm) whenever she heard an irresistible beat, no matter where we happened to be. Cate was kind and merciful; forgiving of injuries & would bear those wrongs patiently. Despite these qualities she was a sensitive soul. Behind those beautiful eyes sadness and loneliness loomed. We are all like the bright moon, we still have our dark side. Perhaps she tried her best to make people happy because she knew what it was like to sometimes feel absolutely worthless and depressed.

Her brightest moment was when she became a mother to her son, Chad Michael, but the estrangement of her son a few years later was her undoing and a familiar disease crept back. My precious Caty lost her battle with addiction last week. Her hope was to work in the field of addiction and for this reason I feel sharing her devastating truth would be acceptable to her. My daughter taught me so much about Love & Life and instilled into me important traits I did not possess. For me, she is a testament to the human spirit and I remind myself that it is not how long a star shines, but the brilliance of it. Daddy's girl was only 17 when her father died, & the fact that Our Heavenly Father reunited them is of comfort to me & her brother. There are earthly angels among us and Caitlin will now be the Guardian Angel for those she loved. She always carried two of her favorite poems with her "Footprints in the Sand" and "My Lost Love, My Lost Child" by Garrett W Wheeler. She prayed often, so please say one for her. Caty's favorite charitable organization is St Jude Children's Hospital.