Tommy M. Cate

Tommy M. Cate, 88, passed away on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 after a lengthy illness. Tommy was born on August 6, 1930 in Kingston, TN, to the late John Moffitt and Claudia Mae (Crowe) Cate. He graduated from Sweetwater High School and Tennessee Military Institute in 1948. He met his wife, Evelyn, while attending Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, TN where he was a member of both the football and basketball teams. After serving in the US Army, Tommy and Evelyn married at Red Bank United Methodist Church in Chattanooga, TN on July 8, 1951. He received his Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1955 and began his career at E.I. DuPont. He retired from DuPont in 1992 after 37 years. He remained active in the community serving as a board member at Ravenwood Country club and the Donelson Hermitage YMCA Tennis Center. He was an inaugural member of the DuPont sponsored “Fun With Science” team that toured local middle schools for over 20 years. He was an avid tennis player at Ravenwood, Donelson tennis center, and at Walt and Bitsy Thompson’s backyard court, continuing to play regularly until his 80s. Tommy was very active within his community, he was devoted to his church, Donelson Heights United Methodist where he spent countless hours overseeing and repairing the building, supervising Community Service workers and also with The Room at the Inn Program. He will be fondly remembered for his cheerful whistle, which was his signature within the church halls.

He is preceded in death by both parents and siblings, Milton Cate, Freddy Cate, and Roma Lynn. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Evelyn Hudgins Cate; children, Cindy (Robert Houseman) Shanks, Doug(Debbie) Cate, and Susan (Roger) Barnett; six grandchildren, Jeremy Cate, Kristin (Greg) Hopkins, Rachel (Josh) Settle, Sara (Danny) Dorr, Wade (Kendra) Barnett, and Wilson (Mary Ann) Barnett; four great-grandchildren, Jaeden Cate, Evie Hopkins, Harrison Hopkins, and Hailey Settle; brother, Alfred (Eunice) Cate; brother-in-law, John Lynn; plus several nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, August 25, 2018 at the Donelson Heights United Methodist Church, 84 Fairway Drive Nashville, TN 37214, with visitation from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. There will be a Gathering of Family and Friends on Friday, August 24, 2018 from 1p.m.-5 p.m. at Mount Olivet Funeral Home. The burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please designate memorials to the Trustees at Donelson Heights UMC, to be used toward building maintenance.