Don Tate Cates

Don Tate Cates, born on June 12, 1933 in Commerce, Texas, went home to Heaven on Saturday, December 9, 2017. Don was surrounded by his loved ones at his time of death. Don is now rejoicing in Heaven with his Lord and Savior whom he faithfully and joyfully served all his days on earth. Don and his wife, Stella, were blissfully married for 60 years. Family was his number one priority. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were his delight and spending time with them was his favorite pastime, especially when he could involve the kids in some of his other pastimes: Texas Rangers baseball, Baylor football, playing racquetball, Scrabble, and drinking coffee. Don received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1955 and his Juris Doctor in 1957, both from Baylor University. He was a proud Baylor Bear and enjoyed many trips to Waco with family and friends to support Baylor Football. Don was a practicing attorney for 60 years with a passion for helping others. It has been said that Don’s wise counsel saved more marriages than he completed divorces. Don was an active public servant serving as the Mayor of Forney 1985-1997, Kaufman County Justice of the Peace 2001-2010, and a Director for the North Texas Municipal Water District 2002-2017. Don was an active and involved church member. He served as a Deacon, teacher, and youth group leader at First Baptist Dallas. When the Cates family moved to Forney in 1974, Don became active at First Baptist Forney serving as a Deacon and teaching a men’s Bible study class for 30 years. Don loved God first and foremost and took to heart Joshua 24:15 “…but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Don was a loyal friend, mentor, leader, provider, and patriarch. He leaves a legacy of Christian faith as he is survived by wife, Stella Oates Cates; son, William Don Cates and wife, Susan of Tehuacana, Texas; daughter, Margaret Ruth Cates Burchett of Forney; son, John Robert Cates & wife, Belinda of Forney; son, Harry Louis Cates II of Frisco, Texas; grandchildren, Misty Holler & husband, David, Cara Taylor & husband, Ryan, Hannah Cates & husband, Charlie Blueweiss, John Thomas Cates, Cecily Cates, Chelsea Cates, Avery Cates, Elijah Cates, Joseph Burchett, Marla Burchett, Lindsay Cates, Elizabeth Cates, William Cates; great grandchildren, Christine Holler, Sean Holler, Alexander Donawho, Margaret Holler, Micah Holler, Anderson Silva, Evelyn Holler, Tate Holler, and Jocelyn Taylor; sister, Vivian Cates Crowson of Longview, Texas; and brother Michael Reid Cates and wife Linda of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Don is preceded in death by parents, Harry Louis Cates, Sr. and Bobbye Tate Cates; brothers, Harry Louis Cates, Jr., George Truett Cates, Durward Hampton Cates; sister, Yvonne Cates Garrett. Service will be 11:00 am on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at First Baptist Church of Forney with interment to follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, Forney. Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 pm on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at New Hope Funeral Home in Sunnyvale. The family requests memorials be made to the First Baptist Church Forney Building Fund in lieu of flowers.