Aubrey Vollie "A.V" Cates Jr.

Odessa - Aubrey Vollie "A.V." Cates, Jr. was born in Lubbock, Texas on May 20, 1937 to Aubrey Vollie Cates, Sr. and Edith Biggerstaff Cates. He graduated from Lubbock High School in 1955, and would marry Sherry Vernelle Bankhead, also of Lubbock, on January 24, 1959. They welcomed their first son, Carl, on August 8, 1960. After completing his degree from Texas Tech University, A.V. moved his young family to Odessa in 1962. A second son, Marc, arrived on April 3, 1963, and their third and final child, Eric, was born July 23, 1976.

Upon arriving in Odessa, A.V. took on the job of teaching Spanish at Permian High School. During his time there, "Señor Cates", as he was sometimes known, enriched his students' education through an exchange program in which his Spanish Club students would meet and interact with students from Chihuahua during a retreat at Prude Ranch in the Davis Mountains. Mr. Cates was often recognized as an outstanding educator. He retired from ECISD in 1994 after a 32 year career. His contributions to education also included classes taught at Odessa Christian School, Midland Christian School, as well as evening courses at Odessa College and UTPB.

Throughout his time in Odessa, A.V. was a faithful member at Sherwood Church of Christ, where he served as a deacon for many years spanning multiple decades. He passed from this life to the next on July 21, 2025.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Aubrey Cates, Sr. and Edith Cates; his sister, Anne Wiley, and his brother Raymond Cates. He is survived by his wife, Sherry Cates; son Carl Cates and his wife Kristy of Odessa, Texas; son Marc Cates and his wife Laura of Scurry, Texas; son Eric Cates of Odessa, Texas; sister Sherry Cates-Cantu of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren Bethany, Caleb, Aubrey, Kitra, and Nathaniel, and five great-grandchildren.

The family would like to recognize and thank Kristy Cates, Velda Duzan, Laura Cates, and Dr. Faye Armstrong for their exceptional assistance during these difficult times.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Sherwood Church of Christ, 4900 N. Dixie in Odessa, Texas, with Dr. Carl Cates presiding.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made by donating to Odessa Christian School, or to the Cates Family Scholarship through The Community Foundation of West Texas in Lubbock, Texas.