Mary Dee Ready Cates



Mrs. Mary Dee Ready Cates, 98, died on November 4, 2011, in the Cripple Creek Community home where she came as the bride of the late Joe V. Cates in October, 1935. She is survived by her children, Steve Cates and Ben and Juana L. Cates; her grandchildren, David and Ashley L. Cates and Shannon C. and Andy Jakes; and her great grandsons, Benjamin Cates and Bryan and Joseph Jakes.

Mrs. Cates was the only child of the late Nancy Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bragg and Irvin E. Ready, of the Porterfield Community of Cannon Co. She owned two TN Century Farms, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places and marked by the Association for the Preservation of TN Antiquities. The Porterfield farm, where she was raised, now occupied by her grandson and his family, was established in the 1840s by her great-grandfather, Abner Alexander; the Cripple Creek farm has been in her husband’s family for about the same period of time.

Mrs. Cates was a 1931 graduate of Kittrell High School and attended MTSU. She had been a member of First Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, since 1947.

Mrs. Cates is descended from James Ready and Absolum Davenport, both veterans of the War of 1812, and Hugh Robinson, early surveyor in the area. Her ancestors also include Christopher Cooper, Captain James Barr, George Davenport and Ezekiel Alexander, Sr., who fought in the American Revolution.

Funeral services will be conducted from First Baptist Church, Woodbury, at 2 pm Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011 by Dr. H. Eugene Cotey and Reverend Hunter Hay. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Woodbury. Visitation will be at the Woodbury Funeral Home from 4 until 8 pm. on Sat., Nov. 5 and at the church beginning 12:30 pm Sunday.

Pallbearers will be Nick Saupe, Hank Saupe, Matt Vehr, Jim Cotey, Chris Copeland, Alvin Brandon, Jr., Jason Lamons, Charlie Wilder and John Mark Brandon.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, Cross Main youth activities, 200 E. Main St., Murfreesboro.

WOODBURY FUNERAL HOME, 615-563-2311 www.woodburyfuneralhome.net