George Mitchell Cates, Jr, age 95, passed away the morning of April 7, 2024 at his home in Decherd, TN. George was born in Nashville, TN on November 26, 1928 to George Mitchell Cates, Sr and Mary Effie Brooks Cates. He graduated from Franklin County High School in 1945 where he played football with dreams of flying planes for the Air Corp. Since WW2 ended and the need for pilots was gone, he went to the Spartan Aviation Training School in Tulsa Oklahoma where he graduated as a Certified Aircraft and Engine Mechanic. He had a private pilot’s license, as well as bought and sold surplus military aircraft. He studied at the University of the South and Tennessee Polytechnic Institute before returning to Decherd to help with his father’s service station.
George married Ruth Virginia Lee Cates in 1950 in Rossville, GA and was married for over 58 years before her passing in 2009.
George ran businesses at the main intersection in Decherd such as a Pure Filling Station, wrecker service but was mainly noted as an Auto and Truck mechanic for over 60 years.
George enjoyed gardening and watching things grow. He could be found in his garden with hoe in hand, wearing his big hat, and tending to his perennial flower garden, tomatoes, and peppers up until this last September. He was an avid reader of history and loved to tell about any new book. He had a vast knowledge of Decherd history and would talk frequently about the heyday of Decherd when it was a major railroad town. He would talk about when he worked in the potato industry as a boy, the price of a hamburger and coke back in the day, and selling fireworks in Decherd.
As a child of the Great Depression, George was a very frugal man who didn’t believe in wasting food or money. He learned in his 70’s how to cook and enjoyed cooking pinto beans and cornbread as one of his favorite meals. Up to the day of his passing, he had an uncanny memory of past customers, their cars, and how he performed their needed service.
In his latter days, taking a ride around the county, seeing his family, and having a conversation where he would say “sit down and tell me a big one” was his pleasure. He was sharp-minded and an extremely industrious hard worker to the end.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Norman Ray Cates of Colorado Springs, CO and Norma Fay Sanders of Decherd, TN.
George is survived by his son Eric Cates and daughter-in-law Theresa Hopkins Cates of Winchester, TN; daughter Wanda Wallace and son-in-law Bill Wallace of Hillsborough, NC; daughter Brenda Britton of Monteagle, TN; grandson Mitchell Cates and his wife Chelsey Cates of Winchester, TN; granddaughter Amy Severson and her husband Kevin Severson of Charlotte, NC; five great-grandchildren Mayson, Amelia and Marshall Cates of Winchester, TN and Hayley and Kate Severson of Charlotte, NC.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in George’s memory to Doctors without Borders, Franklin County Library, or Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
Graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 10:00am at Mt. Garner Cemetery with Reverend Roy Allen Hopkins officiating.
Moore-Cortner Funeral Home 300 1st Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)967-2222
