Nancy Anne Cates

Nancy Anne Cates, 94, of Alpena, Michigan and Austin, Texas passed away November 26, 2025. She was born on September 17, 1931, in Cardwell, Missouri, daughter to the late Arthur Bradley and Blanche Cates (Taylor). Nancy was the loving sister to the late Alice Julia Bigler (late William J. Bigler), and Larry (Karen) Cates; the caring aunt of Sharon (Richard) Gorman, Kristine (Larry) Sieczko, Julia Ferguson, Nancy Bigler, Kathryn (Russell) Guinn, Karrie Cates. the late William B. Bigler and the late Timothy J. Bigler; proud great-aunt of Amy McKee, Shauna (Jim) Lorenz, Beth Gorman, Freddie (Bailey) Gullett, Nicole Bigler, Will Bigler, Kaitlyn (Andrew) Hawley and Clayton (Katie) Wenzel; and Great-Great Aunt to Rylee Gorman, Taya Lorenz, Kyra Lorenz, Brody Baker, Brennan Baker, Brayden Hawley, Aubriella Hawley, Andrew Hawley, Brynn Meyer and Charlotte Gullett.

Nancy loved her job in healthcare where she met new people and helped care for them. Nancy began her fabulous nursing career in 1953 as an ER nurse at Pontiac General Hospital when she was 21 years old. She eventually transitioned to administration, running the emergency department first and eventually becoming house director of the hospital before she retired. While Nancy wore many hats at the hospital, her very favorite “job” was sneaking into the NICU to rock the babies that needed the most care. She always smiled when talking about her time with those sweet “babes,” usually having a favorite to visit every day. Nancy’s love for babies was matched only by her loyalty to friends and devotion to care for any family member in need.

Nancy enjoyed playing softball growing up and was an avid sports fan her entire life, rooting for the Detroit Tigers and Lions, and watching every moment of March Madness. She enjoyed playing the organ, hitting the slot machines once in a while, and she could often be heard humming a favorite song. She also admired nice sports cars and fancy purses.

But nothing received more of Nancy’s time and energy than the home she built in Alpena Michigan. After buying a waterfront Thunder Bay lot, she started construction in 1979 and meticulously planned every detail over many stages of improvement, that remain not-quite finished today. From the personal interior design details to the beautiful gardens, she poured her soul into the light house that many admired for its whimsical inviting character that even compelled passers-by to stop and ask about its story. In Alpena, Nancy became quite the fisherman. Always willing to let friends, neighbors (and sometimes strangers) borrow a little spawn stored in the freezer to cast a line for the brown trout jumping off the banks. Whether she was scoping for swimming shadows from her tower balcony, sitting on the fishing rock, or watching from the bay window for a pole in a rod holder to bend, Nancy always had the most up-to-date fishing report for anyone interested.

In recent years, Nancy moved to Austin and secured official snowbird status, trading long, cold Michigan winters for endless Texas sunshine. She enjoyed sitting in the sun on her patio overlooking the greenbelt, doing jigsaw puzzles, getting her hair and nails done, shopping for seasonal knick- knacks, buying gifts for others, and Sunday dinners with the family…with just one vodka lemonade. Nancy made new friends easily with a smile and a little sarcastic wit. She enjoyed getting to know her new neighbors in Austin (that were so very kind to her) and she always wanted to be introduced to their babies and grandbabies.

In honor of Nancy’s memory: smile often, toast occasionally, and always hum a tune to fill the silence. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.