With profound sadness, we announce the passing of James C. Cate of Mount Juliet, TN on April 15, 2025 at the age of 92. Born in Rockwood, TN to Arthur and Leona Cate, Jim was a proud graduate of Rockwood High School in 1950 and the University of Tennessee in 1956 with a B.S. in Agriculture. His senior year of high school, "J.C." was the Tennessee state president of the 4-H Club. In 1957-59, he served in the Counter Intelligence Corps of the U.S. Army in both Korea and Japan. In 1960, he married Joan Kay Lyke who had graduated from U.T. with a degree in accounting. The two were married 64 years and have two sons, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Jim was active in his veterans group and loved to travel, having visited 49 of the 50 states. His favorite hobby was stamp collecting, and he had served as the president of the Chattanooga Stamp Club and won awards in national stamp shows even into his 90s.
Jim was passionate about Big Orange sports--whether football, basketball, baseball, or softball--and was a long-time season-ticket holder for football games at Neyland Stadium. Jim loved his country and volunteered as a worker at voting polls on Election Days also into his 90s. He and Joan were active members of Victory Baptist Church in Mount Juliet.
He is survived by his wife, Joan (Mt Juliet); sons, Rick (Nashville) and Jeff (CA); grandchildren, Amanda (Aaron) Siemens (VA), Abigail (Jared) Stephen (GA), and Andrew Cate (NY); and great-grandchildren, Isaiah and Autumn Stephen (GA). Visitation will be in Hixson at 1:00pm Tuesday, April 22 at Chattanooga Funeral Home - North Chapel with funeral services at 2:30pm and interment following at Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com
