James A. Cato

James Arthur Cato, 82, passed away in his sleep at home on March 7, 2016 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born December 10, 1933, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the ninth child of ten to the late Arthur and Alma Cato. James attended John S. Cobb School from first grade with his wife of almost 59 years, Ruth Ann, then enlisted in the Army in 1952 and served for three years before his Honorable Discharge. James married his longtime love, Ruth Ann, July 26, 1954 in Fort Wayne and started his employment as a Finishing Technician with International Harvester shortly after. He retired 30.1 years later on March 7, 1985 to enjoy a leisurely life of hunting, fishing, camping, eating, doting on his wife and spoiling his grandchildren. As an avid hunter, James was often out with his brothers, son or nephews falling an 8-point, or a squirrel or rabbit that had bad luck and poor timing. An avid fisherman all of his life, he introduced Ruth Ann to his vice right after her mother passed away. One of his favorite stories was to tell how she caught a fish that very first time out, in October, and never looked back. “I couldn’t teach her anything after that,” Dad always said. They spent many days in their camper and boat at Summit Lake or joining his brother John and his wife Mary in Florida. James had a habit of providing nicknames for all his family, starting with Ruth Ann, who was fondly known as “Polly.” I believe this was due to how Mom talked Dad’s ear off while they were swinging on the porch swing at Mother Abernathy’s cabin when Dad would sneak through the woods to see Mom without Mother Dear seeing him. There has never been a man who enjoyed life as much as James; you never heard him complain, he just took each day in stride and was thankful for it. James loved to lay on the couch, read the paper from front to back and watch the Cubbies play baseball. “No matter if they win or lose,” he would say, “the Cubbies always give you your money’s worth!” James could carry on a conversation with a complete stranger and have them smiling when they walked away. Always with a smile and quick to laugh; always with a funny story to fit any situation. He remembered such minutiae about his life that, when hearing his stories, you felt you were right there with him when it was happening. James is survived by his three children, James Michael, Sr. (Stephanie) and Pamela Marie both of Fort Wayne, and Trisha Lynn (Shi) of Jacksonville, Florida; a sister, Thelma Jean of Decatur, Georgia; special daughter-in-law, Gladys; three grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, his special granddaughter, Nani, along with a host of nieces, nephews and many life-long friends. James was also preceded in death by four brothers, two sisters and his wife, Ruth Ann in 2013. James will be laid to rest next to Ruth Ann in Greenlawn Cemetery.