Cathey S. Alejo

Cathey Sue Alejo, age 75, of Bel Air, Maryland, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at Upper Chesapeake Hospital in Bel Air, MD. Born and raised in Aberdeen, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Amos C. Richardson and Iola “Tad” (Woodie) Richardson.

Cathey was the devoted wife of Lorenzo (Larry) Alejo, with whom she shared 47 wonderful years of marriage. She dedicated 42 years of service to Aberdeen Proving Ground, where she first met Larry.

A gifted and avid crafter, Cathey especially enjoyed creating floral arrangements and designing anything with a Victorian touch. She loved working on crossword puzzles, word searches, putting together puzzles, and spending time playing games such as Dominos, Phase 10, and Aggravation. Her favorite shows included I Love Lucy, Leave It to Beaver, and The Andy Griffith Show, which brought her comfort and joy throughout her life.

She was a loving and nurturing mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She instilled the same Christian values in her family that she had been taught since childhood. Cathey cherished her time spent with her grandchildren and great-granddaughter. She found great joy in baking Christmas cookies using her mother’s treasured recipe. Her favorite holidays were Thanksgiving and Christmas and having the family together to celebrate. A lifelong member of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church—where her father served as pastor and helped build and establish the church—Cathey’s faith was central to her life. She enjoyed traveling, especially to Germany, and took many memorable trips with her parents across the United States.

She is survived by her husband, Larry Alejo; daughter, Kimberly (Gilbert, Jr.) Bender; grandchildren, Gilbert (Erika) Bender III; April Bender (Jimmy Jones); great-granddaughter, Harper Mae Jones; sister, Peggy (Richard) Cortright; brother, Ronnie Richardson; and several nephews, great nephews, and one great niece.

The family would like to thank the hospital staff of Upper Chesapeake for their care and support during this difficult time. The family would like to recognize Kenzie, Angie, Pam, Austin, Justin, Katie from wound care; Sam, Audrey, John, Mary, Greg, Meridith, Judy, and special thanks to Kenzie for helping during Cathey's last hours.

If preferred, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Harmony Freewill Baptist Church, 2004 Brandt Avenue, Middle River, MD 21220.