Obituaries

Willie Cates

Photo of Willie Cates
Willie Cates, 73, of Benton died on Friday, July 1, 2016. He was born Aug. 26, 1942 in England, Ark., to Orval and Sena Cates. Willie retired after twenty-three years of service from the Arkansas Army National Guard as a helicopter crew Chief. He also spent thirty-four years in the printing business for International Business Forms. Some of Willie's favorite past times were spent with his grandchildren, from watching baseball games and gymnastics competitions to family gatherings. Willie was an avid St. Louis Cardinal Baseball fan and watched all the games he could on television. Willie is survived by his wife of forty-one years, the love of his life, Yvonne; they have three sons, Mark Hodge (Kristin), Scott and Christopher Cates; four grandchildren he thought the world of, Garner, Grant, Mary Elizabeth Hodge and Reagan Cates; one brother, Monroe Cates and one sister, Dorothy Skaggs; eleven nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Visitation will be held on Friday July 8, 2016 from 10-11 a.m., with service immediately following at Smith-Benton Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at Smith-Rosemont Cemetery. Dr. Rick Grant officiating. In Lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to make a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in honor of Garner's Gang at 11324 Arcade Dr., Suite 16, Little Rock, Ark., 72212. Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. On-line registry at www.smithfamilycares.com.

Published July 3, 2016

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