Martha Ellen Cloninger Cate was born Saturday, April 3, 1926 in Farmersville, Texas to C.E. and Vera (Bowers) Cloninger and went to her Heavenly home on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at the age of 90.
Martha grew up in Dallas. She married R. L. Cate on April 5, 1947 in Grapevine, and came to Sherman in 1963 where he worked for Johnson & Johnson. He precedes her in death in August 1987.
She and R.L. were very involved with their children in the church youth group. Martha enjoyed taking pictures of her grandchildren and listening to Gospel music. She loved the color purple, going shopping, and eating at Chick fil A on a daily basis.
She was a member of the Howe First Baptist Church over 50 plus years and member of the church’s XYZ Club, taking many trips with church friends.
Mrs. Cate was also preceded in death by her parents, daughter Martha Jean Cate, and grandson Joseph Fenton Jr.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathie Fenton (Joseph) of Muenster, TX, son, Marvin Cate (Sherry) of McKinney, TX, grandchildren, Jennifer Bayer (Eric), Hayle Dangelmayr (Tom), Michael Hill (Michelle), Rodney Cooper, and Robert Cate (Binta); 8 great grandchildren, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews.
Services to celebrate Martha’s life will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the Howe First Baptist Church with grandson Eric Bayer officiating and Pastor Roger Tidwell assisting.
Interment will follow at Hall Cemetery with grandsons Michael Hill, Rodney Cooper, Robert Cate, Micah Bayer, Tom Dangelmayr, and Eli Dangelmayr serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 PM on Monday, Sept. 5, at Waldo Funeral Home in Sherman.
The family requests donations be made to the First Baptist Church XYZ Club 100 W. Davis St. Howe, TX 75459 or Home Hospice of Cooke County 316 S. Chestnut Gainesville, TX 76240.