Sylvia Tucker Cates, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many passed away peacefully on May 29, 2024, at the age of 77. Sylvia was born on September 19, 1946, in Dayton, Tennessee to Clark Mose Tucker and Mary Allon Tucker. She moved with her family, at a young age, to Dayton, Ohio. Sylvia met the love of her life, Kenneth Reed Cates, at 20 years of age after he bid on the horse she was riding during an auction. Sylvia and Ken married in 1967 and immediately began a lifelong passion for traveling, courtesy of the United States Marine Corps.
During their time in the Marine Corps, she worked as a pharmacy assistant in Yuma, Arizona. After the Marine Corps they moved back to Dayton, Ohio to be near family. She spent a brief period of time working as a beautician and then transitioned into working as an office manager in a number of different medical offices, where her warm personality and dedication made her an invaluable part of every workplace.
Sylvia loved her family intensely and without reserve. She had a genuine zeal for life, she loved her friends deeply, and loved sharing a tasty margarita with them. Her love for Jesus Christ was evident in her daily life, as she embodied kindness, acceptance, and a willingness to speak her mind with grace.
In 2013 she and Ken retired, and moved to Texas to be closer to their family, mainly their grandchildren, (50 feet to be exact). In her retirement years she spent countless hours traveling the world with her husband, nurturing her beautiful flower gardens, camping in national and state parks (around 30 of them!) and attending every ceremony and sporting event for her grandchildren.
She is survived by her loving husband Kenneth, her devoted son Brandon and daughter in-law Christy, and three cherished grandchildren, Tyler, Paige, Brady, and loving dog, Toby.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donating to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, causes close to Sylvia’s heart.
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