Gerald Sr

FIELDON-  Gerald L. Cates Sr., 78, died at 2:02 a.m., Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at his home under the loving care of his family from complications from leukemia.He was born in Fieldon on Dec. 19, 1935, one of seven children born to the late Ralph Jasper & Norma Faye (Pruitt) Cates.He graduated in 1953 from Jersey Community High School, and had worked for Shell Oil Company in Wood River for 15 years, Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, and retired as a machinist at Owens-Illinois after 25 years.  He was a hard working, dedicated employee, but his true passions were his family and golf.He married the former Barbara King on June 2, 1956 at the Fieldon United Church of Christ,and together their lives have been blessed with three children and 58 years of happiness.Gerald & Barb enjoyed their retirement years, and were able to enjoy their home in Arizona for the last 16 years.Surviving are his wife, Barbara Cates of Fieldon; a daughter & son in law, Lisa & Mark Hayn of Fieldon; two sons & daughters in law, Gerald & Barbara Cates Jr. of Farmington, NM., and Mark Cates of Fieldon; nine grandchildren; six great grandchildren; three sisters & brothers in law, Ruth Etta & Donald Kinder of Golden Eagle, Charlotte & Charles Rulon of Fieldon, Doris Thompson of Fieldon; two brothers & a sister in law, Ralph Cates Jr. of Alton, William & Martha Cates of Florida; his brothers in law & sisters in law, Ralph & Betty King of Jerseyville, Lois & Paul Otto of Alton, and Mildred King of Brighton; along with numerous nieces and nephews.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Thelma Yvonne Short; his father in law & mother in law, Frank & Lillie King; brothers in law & sisters in law, Agnes Cates,  Dorothy & John Chandler, Shirley & Robert Neikerk,Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday.Private burial will take place at the Fieldon Cemetery at a later date.Memorials may be given to the Leukemia Society in care of the funeral home.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home