James Patrick Cates

He attended the American School in Japan his first two years of high school and graduated from Great Falls High School, Great Falls, MT in 1982. James earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1986 and his Juris Doctorate in 1989 from the University of Oklahoma. While at OU, he was active in the Gamma Rho Zeta Chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity where he served as High Kappa, fraternity educator, and later as Inter-fraternity Council (IFC) President. His smile, humor, and enthusiasm touched all who met him and as was to become his norm, he developed many deep and lasting friendships that remained strong through the years.

After college, he went to work in Oklahoma City for the Baer and Timberlake law firm which later became Baer, Timberlake, Coulson & Cates, P.C., when he became a partner in 1998. Oklahoma City became his home for the next 25 years and he continued to touch all he befriended, adding many more close friendships over the years.

James was an avid sports fan, especially if it was Sooner Football or the Oklahoma City Thunder. He loved to travel and his trips encompassed many countries.

Above all else, he was a cherished son of Patricia A. Cates of McMinnville, OR and LTC (ret.) William E. Cates, Jr. of Colorado Springs, CO, and brother to William E. Cates, III, of Fulshear, TX, and Robert M. Cates, of Houston, TX. He was loved by and loved his cousin, aunts and uncles, and nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held at 10:00 am Thursday morning, November 6th at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper funeral home in Oklahoma City. Friends wishing to say their personal farewells are invited to do so between 8:00 and 10:00 am. Afterwards there will be a celebration of James’ life at 2:00 pm at Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria, 5801 North Western Avenue.

A scholarship fund in his name has been established with the University of Oklahoma Foundation. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of James P. Cates to the University of Oklahoma Foundation, 100 Timberdell Road, Norman, OK 73019.