Marilyn Cates

Marilyn Cates (née Hartman) of Atlanta, after living 93 happy years, peacefully passed away at home in her sleep after a brief struggle with cancer on Saturday, August 12th, 2023 with family at her side.

Born in Augusta, GA on August 25th, 1929, to Bernard and Alma Hartman, Marilyn grew up and attended school in Knoxville, TN, where she and her two sisters, Agnes and Betty, often enjoyed the outdoors with their parents and many family friends.

After attending Knoxville Catholic High School, Marilyn graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1951 with a degree in Home Economics. Soon after, she and her mother moved to Atlanta where she worked as a floor salesperson for Rich’s department store.

In spring 1954 at a local swimming pool, she met the love of her life, Gene H. Cates, who asked her for a first date that evening, and won her hand in marriage later that year. When recalling their courtship, they’d often chuckle at Marilyn’s sending the gift of a cigarette lighter to Gene, who that summer was fighting forest fires in Alaska. After they were married, Gene started Cates Construction & Development Company with his twin brother and built many private homes and office buildings in Atlanta. During this time, Marilyn and Gene raised four children. The family enjoyed Marilyn’s delicious cooking, especially a unique recipe for spaghetti meat sauce handed down through several generations of her family. Her husband Gene passed away in 1990 and is fondly remembered by them all.

Among Marilyn’s grandest passions were a lifelong devotion to her Catholic faith, participation in the charitable efforts, gardening blue hydrangeas in the backyard, frequent swimming for exercise (even into her 90s!), and an abiding love for European travel and culture, especially France. She enjoyed her final European trip with her daughter exploring the Italian peninsula all the way down the famous “boot.”

Back home, she treasured her grandchildren and loved being with them. Marilyn’s life, interests, and travels had a special way of inspiring and leaving a lasting influence on those around her.

Marilyn is survived by her four children: Jene Cates (Portland, OR), Forrest Cates (Seattle, WA), Richard Cates (Madison, GA) and Dwight Cates (Alexandria, VA); and six grandchildren: Breanna, Hunter, Kiera, Amelia, Connor, and William.

Funeral Services will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Friday, August 18 at 10am, with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to Atlanta Botanical Garden.