Edward "Buddy" Cate, loving husband and father, 90, died Thursday evening June 7, 2018 at Mt. Pleasant Manor, in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.
Buddy was born and lived the majority of his life on his farm in Athens, Tennessee. He was the son of the late Robert Bruce and Nora Lawson Cate. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter Doris Jane, and his wife of 59 years Doris Wood Cate.
He was a lifetime member of Cedar Springs United Methodist Church where he served as trustee. He was a devoted father and grandfather who loved his family. He was a dairy and tobacco farmer in McMinn County his entire life. He served on the board of McMinn County Farmers Insurance Company.
He is survived by his sister, Mary Cate of Athens; two daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Tommy Barnett of Athens, and Jane and Bobby Harrelson of Moncks, SC; one son and daughter-in-law, Bobby and Robin Cate of Sumter, SC; three granddaughters, Shaye Beville and her husband Danny, Catelyn Barnett and Abbie Harrelson; four grandsons, Alex Barnett, Lawson and Ryan Cate, and Robbie Harrelson; one great-granddaughter Hannah Hamblin of Athens.
The family wishes to give a special thanks to the staff of Mt. Pleasant Manor for their loving and compassionate care.
A funeral service will be conducted 12:00 pm, Saturday, June 16, 2018 in the chapel of Smith Funeral Home with Rev.David Neel officiating. Interment will follow in McMinn Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 10:30am-12:00 pm Saturday at the funeral home prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be Chuck Burris, Dr. Rusty Barnett, Dr. Scott Curtis, John Curtis, Bill Stone, and Randy Tallent.
The family suggests memorials be made to Cedar Springs United Methodist Church, c/o Sherry Tallent, 1307 Miami Street, Athens, TN 37303.