James T. Cates

James T. Cates passed away on February 2nd 2018 after 92 years of life. Jim was born on October 9th 1925 to Hollis and Annie Mae Cates. He lived with his mother and grandfather, Bradley Pate, in a tiny log cabin in Saltello, Mississippi. When Jim was 8 years old, he and his mother moved to Maud, Oklahoma where he attended school until the age of 17, when he then enlisted in the United States Navy. During World War II Jim served as a Radio Operator in the Aleutian Islands. However, it was in San Francisco where he met his future wife, Mary Ann Young. Their courtship lasted a short 6 weeks and their marriage, a beautiful 49 years! The couple moved back to Oklahoma, where they had both previously lived and began their family. This is where their oldest son, James Richard "Dick" was born. They then moved to Bakersfield, California where the remaining four children, Linda Sue, Bradley Allen, Kenneth Joe and Kevin Roy were born.

Jim was dedicated to his family and worked a variety of jobs to sustain them. Including… picking potatoes and working in the onion fields. Jim was never afraid of hard work! As if he wasn't busy enough with three kids and a growing career, he once again served his country as a Radio Operator for the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Aside from being a renaissance man, he was a quick learner so it was no surprise when he worked his way up to being a Service Manager at Montgomery Ward. Jim's work at Ward's eventually took his family to the Napa and Santa Rosa area, but it was the new opportunity at J.C. Penney that brought him to Kansas City in 1969. He eventually returned to Montgomery Ward where he worked until his retirement in 1993. In his later years, he pursued his hobby of turning rags to riches by going to flea markets and garage and estate sales. He enjoyed refurbishing authentic pieces for resale, even setting up his own flea market on 33rd and Troost. In 1995, Jim lost his Mary Ann but was blessed to meet a wonderful woman named Marjorie Willard. Marjorie and Jim spent his last 22 years doing things they loved, including traveling across the U.S., hitting up garage sales along the way… of course. Marjorie was in integral part of Jim's life and was by his side until his final moments.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann (Young) Cates and daughter, Linda Sue Cates- Dollard. Jim is survived by his sweetheart, Marjorie Willard, children; Dick (Barbara), Bradley (Sheridan), Kenneth (Beth) and Kevin (Leslie), twelve grandchildren; Cory, Danny, Jacob, Clancey, Jeremy, Chris, Brian, Steven, Andrew, Parker, Taylor, and Kinsey and twenty-one great-grandchildren.

A Visitation is set for Friday, February 9th 2018 from 6-8 PM at Amos Family Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas 66203. A Graveside Service is set for 11 AM, Saturday, February 10, 2018 at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens, 23215 W. 75 th Street, Shawnee, Kansas 66227.