Patricia Lee Cato

Patricia "Patsy" Cato
Patricia "Patsy" Lee Cato, a beacon of grace, compassion, and unwavering faith, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 71. Born on July 30, 1953, in Dover, Ohio, Patsy's life was a testament to her deep devotion to God, her family, her love of animals, and her community.
Patsy's early years in Dover were deeply rooted in her Christian upbringing. Raised in a loving home where faith was spoken and lived, she attended church every week, witnessing her parents' dedication to their beliefs firsthand. Her father, Minister Luther E. Cato Jr., instilled in her the values of hard work and service, a legacy that would shape her life. Patsy was baptized at 12 at the Dover Church of Christ, a pivotal moment that ignited a lifelong pursuit of spiritual growth. Even in her youth, Patsy's vibrant spirit shone brightly as a talented student and proud cheerleader at Dover High School.
Throughout her life, Patsy recognized the importance of studying God's word and learning from the experiences of those who came before her. This dedication led her to a profound understanding of the Christian faith and the significance of triumphs and trials in one's journey. For many years, she was a cherished and long-standing member of the Genessee Avenue Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio, where she also loved singing as a member of the Genessee Avenue Voices of Charity.
Patsy's commitment to service extended beyond her faith into her career at East Columbus Veterinary Hospital, where she served as the office manager and a registered veterinary technician since 1996. Her dedication to the clients and their animals was evident to everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her, making her a beloved staff member to coworkers and clients. Patsy had a particular passion for assisting senior citizens in caring for their pets, often going above and beyond by personally picking up and returning animals to their homebound or traveling owners.
A proud native of Dover, Patsy moved to Columbus in 1989 and quickly established herself as a dedicated professional and a lifelong learner. She achieved her degree in Animal Technology summa cum laude from Columbus State University in 1999. Earlier, she earned a degree in Business Management with honors from Mansfield Business College. Patsy also pursued studies at Kent State and The Ohio State Universities. While attending Ohio State, Patsy met and married Frank Love, and together, God blessed them with two daughters, Tai and Chantel, who brought immense joy to her life.
Later in life, Patsy experienced a special joy when she reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Lawrence Cheek, in 2009. They shared a loving companionship until his passing in 2020. Above all, Patsy cherished her time with her family and her grandsons, Treyvon and Seven Zen, who affectionately referred to her as GP and SugarMommy respectfully. She delighted in their accomplishments and found immense joy in simply being in their presence. Patsy will be fondly remembered for her beautiful, infectious smile and warm laugh that could light up any room.
Those who knew Patsy would readily describe her as graceful, intuitive, lovely, generous, compassionate, and loving. She was a devoted mother, a hardworking individual, and a woman who knew God loved her and was blessed by His grace. Patsy enjoyed watching crime shows, soap operas, and Christmas movies when she could be pried away from working. Many loved Patsy; she embodied strength and phenomenal spirit and was known to give to those in need, open her home to stray animals, and figure out a way to fix almost anything.
Patsy is survived by her loving daughters, Tai Love and Chantel Love; her brothers, Clarence "Pete" Evans and Richard "Richie" Cato; her sisters, Lena (Robert) Evans Morton and Linda (Donald) Cato Noel; her cherished grandsons, Trey Watson and Seven Zen; her loving bonus daughter, Yvette James; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family members, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her loving parents, Luther Edmund and Beatrice Cato, her brothers, Albert (Amelia) Evans and Ernest (Cynthia) Cato, and her sister, Sheila Cato Carrington.
Patsy's legacy of faith, love, strength, and service will continue to inspire all who knew her. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered. To honor her memory, please consider contributing to the ECV Memorial Fund for Pets of Seniors; this is a way to continue her passionate work. https://everloved.com/life-of/patricia-cato-columbus-oh/ (Please copy and paste this link to your web browser)
Patsy's life will be celebrated on April 12 at 11 am ET at Genessee Avenue church of Christ, 1889 Genessee Ave, Columbus, Ohio. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Patricia Lee Cato (Cato), please visit our Tree Store.