Nell Cates

1924 - 2015

UNITY – Nell W. Cates, 90, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend went to be with the Lord on September 3, 2015, at her home after a long and beautiful life. She was born on November 30, 1924, to Byrd and Julie Mae Williams and she lived most of her life in the Unity community. She devoted her life to God and was a faithful member of Oak Grove United Methodist Church and Saltillo First United Methodist Church. She valued hard work and she was a longtime employee of Playcraft and Reed's Manufacturing. She loved to fish and camp, especially at J.P. Coleman State Park, where she took her grandchildren every summer. She was an avid gardener. Her vegetables were some of the best around and she loved to cook and feed her family.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today, September 5, 2015, at Waters Funeral Home with Bro. Joe Coggins and Bro. Tim Green officiating. Burial will be in Unity Cemetery.
She is survived by her son, James Cates (Ann) of Unity; two grandchildren, Misty Crowder (Chris) of Saltillo and Jeff Cates (Nikki) of Guntown; five great-grandchildren, Beth Crowder, Eli Crowder, Braden Cates, Aven Cates and Caden Cates; five sisters, Sarah Brown (Earl), Louis Gray, Hazel Hinds, Helen Barnard and Joyce King; several special nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Durdward Cates; her parents; two sisters, Virgie Fugit and Ruby Peeks; five brothers, James Williams, Homer Williams, Ralph Williams, Jack Williams and Roy Williams.
Pallbearers will be Chris Crowder, Jeff Cates, Braden Cates, Aven Cates, Shawn Shaffer, Danny Thompson, Don Hinds and Terry Hinds.
Honorary pallbearers will be Caden Cates, Beth Crowder, Eli Crowder, Dr. Billly Walton, Leanne Scroggins, the hospice staff and the home health staff.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watersfuneralservice.com.