When George Allen L. Cates was born on July 18, 1864, in Orange County, N.C., and migrated to Tennessee, little did he realize that 150 years later his descendants would gather for their 62nd Cates Clan Reunion.

The seven children — Jim, John, Carrie, Bill, Pearl, Rhoda and Paul — decided after the death of their mother, Dec. 24, 1951, and the death of their father, Dec. 25, 1952, they would meet each year to honor their parents. The first reunion was held in July 1953 at Jim’s, and after that the children rotated being host. They set the date around their dad’s birthday, July 18, on the third Saturday of July.

The 62nd Cates Clan Reunion was held Saturday, July 19, at the Little Doe Freewill Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. The grandchildren of John H. and Elizabeth Cates came from afar to serve as host — Larry and Sylvia Adams, Susan Powell, Ashley Powell and Stephen King from the suburbs of Nashville, and Michael and Sandra Cavano and Matthew and Allison Cavano from Chesapeake, Va.

Stephen King served as master of ceremonies. The Rev. Mike Hyder offered the blessing for the meal. Steve gave a brief history of his grandfather, John H. Cates, a World War I veteran, and his service overseas. He displayed a 12-inch mortar shell his grandfather brought back from the war.

John H. Cates and Elizabeth Cates both retired from Carson-Newman College.

We were saddened by the death of Clyde Cates on October 22, 2013, at the age of 97. He was a World War II veteran and a retired teacher and loved his Tiger Creek farm and cattle.

The family had three weddings this past year. Katherine Marie Musser and William Mirl Berry IV were married June 7 in Indianapolis, Ind. She is the daughter of Scott and Jane Musser and the granddaughter of Gretchen Hyder Fortune.

Jason Randall Cates and Christina McLane were married November 27, 2013, in Georgia. He is the son of Terry Cates and the late Monnie Cates and the grandson of the late Roy and Alma Cates.

Joseph Roy Lusk and Morgan Elizabeth Owens were married June 13, 2014, in an outdoor ceremony in Gray. He is the son of Scott and Janet Cates Lusk and grandson of the late Roy and Alma Cates.

The Cates family was blessed this year with four healthy baby girls. Jenna Cate Brammell was welcomed by her parents, Brad and Karen Brammell and three brothers August 2, 2013, in Grayson, Ky. She weighed 7 lbs.10 ozs. and was 2l inches long. She is the granddaughter of Ken and Sheila Cates Brammell.

Emma Grace Thea Wilson was born May 20, 2014, to John W. and Heather Wilson of Greeneville. She weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and was 19 inches long.  She is the granddaughter of Judge John K. and Nancy Wilson, and the great-granddaughter of Ethel Cates Wilson and the late Albert Wilson.

Russell and Katie Moore of South Carolina announce the birth of their daughter, McKenzie Elizabeth Moore, March 26, 2014. She is the granddaughter of Ralph and Debbie Moore and the great-granddaughter of the late Sy and Christine Cates Moore.

Jocelynn Rachel Cates was born July 18, 2014, to Jason and Christina Cates of Crystal River, Fla. She is the granddaughter of Terry Cates and the late Monnie Cates, and the great-granddaughter of the late Roy and Alma Cates. Out of about 275 births she is the only one born July 18th, her great-great-great-granddad’s birthday.

Jocelynn Rachel has the same initials, JRC as her dad, Jason Randall Cates, her uncle Jeremy Ryan Cates, aunt Janet Ruth Cates Lusk, and great-great-granddad, J.R. Cates. How about that? Dallas only had one JR, but the Cates Clan has five JRs. She is the first person to be born on Allen L. Cates’ birthday.

Oscar and Lou Henry Cates King have relocated from Memphis to Portsmouth, Va., to be near their daughter, Sandra, in their golden years. The clan was happy to see at the reunion Gretchen Hyder Fortune after a bout with cancer and Ted Walsh after his run-in with a riding lawnmower.

Nancy Carol Honeycutt has done many exciting things during her short life. She works as a booking agent out of California, but is moving to Oregon for a new position. She has worked political conventions, inaugurations, dozens of movies and met many top stars. Hannah Montana was one movie she worked with and got 10 of her relatives a job as  extras. They were paid $90 a day for appearing in the movie. She also got her cousin, Ben Williams, a part in Chill Factor. Her latest adventure took her to China and Singapore for the exhibition games of the Los Angeles Lakers. She went a week early to tour the countries, and received a ride back home on the Lakers’ private jet.

A farm of social organization in which the eldest member living is recognized as the head of the family, clan or tribe. Allen L. Cates, J.R. Cates, Rhoda Cates Hyder and Clyde Cates have served as head of the clan as oldest member. Ethel Cates Wilson now becomes the head of the Clan as the oldest member at 94 years old.

Those attending this year’s reunion included Glenn and Vivian Cates, Brooke Cates, Dustin Jaynes, Janet Lusk, Season Lusk, Beth Cates, Ethel Cates Wilson, John and Nancy Wilson, Scott and  Kim Carter, Grace and Victoria Carter, Jerry Wilson, Brandon and Laura Wilson, Owen Wilson, Chris and Beth Prangley, Cayman, Aiden, Macy and Madelyn Prangley, Lindsey Wilson.

Sheila Brammell, Shanna Brammell, Kendall and Colby Brammell, Tiffany Felty, Hannah and Dawson Felty, Randy and Shirley Colbaugh, Jessa Colbaugh, Cody and Brittany Hensley, Breden and Devin Depew, Mary Ruth Cates Cole, Dave and Brenda  Sowers, Ken and Anita Flinders, Hunter and June Terry, Sally Cates, Frank Cates, Jim Cates.

Larry and Sylvia Adams, Susan Powell, Ashley Powell, Stephen King, Denise Hickman, Laura King, Michael and Sandra Cavano, Matthew and Allison Cavano, Thelma Jaynes, Jack Jaynes, Lisa Burdick, Ben and Joy Williams, Nat Edens Hyder, Mike and Robin Hyder, Jason and Heidi Stuphin, Aubrey, Julianne and Erik Sutphin, Gretchen Fortune, Scott and Jane Musser, Ted and Kim Walsh, Patsy Poe, Bob Cates, Chris Cates and Grace.

The 63rd Cates Clan Reunion will be held at the Little Doe FWB Church Fellowship Hall on Saturday, July 19, 2015 at high noon. The W.N. Cates family will serve as host.

Submitted by Sally Cates

Star Advisory Board Member

 

 

When George Allen L. Cates was born on July 18, 1864, in Orange County, N.C., and migrated to Tennessee, little did he realize that 150 years later his descendants would gather for their 62nd Cates Clan Reunion.

The seven children — Jim, John, Carrie, Bill, Pearl, Rhoda and Paul — decided after the death of their mother, Dec. 24, 1951, and the death of their father, Dec. 25, 1952, they would meet each year to honor their parents. The first reunion was held in July 1953 at Jim’s, and after that the children rotated being host. They set the date around their dad’s birthday, July 18, on the third Saturday of July.

The 62nd Cates Clan Reunion was held Saturday, July 19, at the Little Doe Freewill Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. The grandchildren of John H. and Elizabeth Cates came from afar to serve as host — Larry and Sylvia Adams, Susan Powell, Ashley Powell and Stephen King from the suburbs of Nashville, and Michael and Sandra Cavano and Matthew and Allison Cavano from Chesapeake, Va.

Stephen King served as master of ceremonies. The Rev. Mike Hyder offered the blessing for the meal. Steve gave a brief history of his grandfather, John H. Cates, a World War I veteran, and his service overseas. He displayed a 12-inch mortar shell his grandfather brought back from the war.

John H. Cates and Elizabeth Cates both retired from Carson-Newman College.

We were saddened by the death of Clyde Cates on October 22, 2013, at the age of 97. He was a World War II veteran and a retired teacher and loved his Tiger Creek farm and cattle.

The family had three weddings this past year. Katherine Marie Musser and William Mirl Berry IV were married June 7 in Indianapolis, Ind. She is the daughter of Scott and Jane Musser and the granddaughter of Gretchen Hyder Fortune.

Jason Randall Cates and Christina McLane were married November 27, 2013, in Georgia. He is the son of Terry Cates and the late Monnie Cates and the grandson of the late Roy and Alma Cates.

Joseph Roy Lusk and Morgan Elizabeth Owens were married June 13, 2014, in an outdoor ceremony in Gray. He is the son of Scott and Janet Cates Lusk and grandson of the late Roy and Alma Cates.

The Cates family was blessed this year with four healthy baby girls. Jenna Cate Brammell was welcomed by her parents, Brad and Karen Brammell and three brothers August 2, 2013, in Grayson, Ky. She weighed 7 lbs.10 ozs. and was 2l inches long. She is the granddaughter of Ken and Sheila Cates Brammell.

Emma Grace Thea Wilson was born May 20, 2014, to John W. and Heather Wilson of Greeneville. She weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz. and was 19 inches long.  She is the granddaughter of Judge John K. and Nancy Wilson, and the great-granddaughter of Ethel Cates Wilson and the late Albert Wilson.

Russell and Katie Moore of South Carolina announce the birth of their daughter, McKenzie Elizabeth Moore, March 26, 2014. She is the granddaughter of Ralph and Debbie Moore and the great-granddaughter of the late Sy and Christine Cates Moore.

Jocelynn Rachel Cates was born July 18, 2014, to Jason and Christina Cates of Crystal River, Fla. She is the granddaughter of Terry Cates and the late Monnie Cates, and the great-granddaughter of the late Roy and Alma Cates. Out of about 275 births she is the only one born July 18th, her great-great-great-granddad’s birthday.

Jocelynn Rachel has the same initials, JRC as her dad, Jason Randall Cates, her uncle Jeremy Ryan Cates, aunt Janet Ruth Cates Lusk, and great-great-granddad, J.R. Cates. How about that? Dallas only had one JR, but the Cates Clan has five JRs. She is the first person to be born on Allen L. Cates’ birthday.

Oscar and Lou Henry Cates King have relocated from Memphis to Portsmouth, Va., to be near their daughter, Sandra, in their golden years. The clan was happy to see at the reunion Gretchen Hyder Fortune after a bout with cancer and Ted Walsh after his run-in with a riding lawnmower.

Nancy Carol Honeycutt has done many exciting things during her short life. She works as a booking agent out of California, but is moving to Oregon for a new position. She has worked political conventions, inaugurations, dozens of movies and met many top stars. Hannah Montana was one movie she worked with and got 10 of her relatives a job as  extras. They were paid $90 a day for appearing in the movie. She also got her cousin, Ben Williams, a part in Chill Factor. Her latest adventure took her to China and Singapore for the exhibition games of the Los Angeles Lakers. She went a week early to tour the countries, and received a ride back home on the Lakers’ private jet.

A farm of social organization in which the eldest member living is recognized as the head of the family, clan or tribe. Allen L. Cates, J.R. Cates, Rhoda Cates Hyder and Clyde Cates have served as head of the clan as oldest member. Ethel Cates Wilson now becomes the head of the Clan as the oldest member at 94 years old.

Those attending this year’s reunion included Glenn and Vivian Cates, Brooke Cates, Dustin Jaynes, Janet Lusk, Season Lusk, Beth Cates, Ethel Cates Wilson, John and Nancy Wilson, Scott and  Kim Carter, Grace and Victoria Carter, Jerry Wilson, Brandon and Laura Wilson, Owen Wilson, Chris and Beth Prangley, Cayman, Aiden, Macy and Madelyn Prangley, Lindsey Wilson.

Sheila Brammell, Shanna Brammell, Kendall and Colby Brammell, Tiffany Felty, Hannah and Dawson Felty, Randy and Shirley Colbaugh, Jessa Colbaugh, Cody and Brittany Hensley, Breden and Devin Depew, Mary Ruth Cates Cole, Dave and Brenda  Sowers, Ken and Anita Flinders, Hunter and June Terry, Sally Cates, Frank Cates, Jim Cates.

Larry and Sylvia Adams, Susan Powell, Ashley Powell, Stephen King, Denise Hickman, Laura King, Michael and Sandra Cavano, Matthew and Allison Cavano, Thelma Jaynes, Jack Jaynes, Lisa Burdick, Ben and Joy Williams, Nat Edens Hyder, Mike and Robin Hyder, Jason and Heidi Stuphin, Aubrey, Julianne and Erik Sutphin, Gretchen Fortune, Scott and Jane Musser, Ted and Kim Walsh, Patsy Poe, Bob Cates, Chris Cates and Grace.

The 63rd Cates Clan Reunion will be held at the Little Doe FWB Church Fellowship Hall on Saturday, July 19, 2015 at high noon. The W.N. Cates family will serve as host.

Submitted by Sally Cates

Star Advisory Board Member