Coach Jim Cates

 

James (Jim) Cates, age 85, of Powell, Tennessee, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday afternoon, March 17, 2015. Jim was born on January 31, 1930, in Blount County, to Merritt and Grace Cates. He was a member of Glenwood Baptist Church of Powell. Jim was a graduate of Young High, Maryville College, and the University of Tennessee. Jim was a Korean War Veteran with the US Air Force. He was a member of Longstreet Zollicoffer Camp 87 Sons of Confederate Veterans. He was an educator for forty years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, which began in Rome, Georgia and ended in Knoxville, Tennessee at Farragut High School until his retirement. Jim participated in football, wrestling, and track in college. He coached these sports and cross country in Georgia and Tennessee. He was voted two times as Wrestling Coach of the Year in Georgia and two times in Tennessee. Jim was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014 and into the Farragut Hall of Fame in January 2015. 

Jim was preceded in death by his mother and father, Grace and Merritt Cates; sister, Penelope Cates Bishop; brothers, Charles T. Cates, III, Joe Y. Cates, and Hannum M. Cates. He is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, Sherry Watson Cates; daughter, Angela Brown and husband Kenny, of Rome, Georgia; sons, James Cates, Jr. and wife Deanna, of Columbia, South Carolina and John Cates and wife Stephanie, of Milton, Georgia; step-son, Chad Capps and wife Joanna, of Johnson City, Tennessee; grandchildren, Zachary Brown and wife Amy, of Asheville, North Carolina, Hollie Brown Collins and husband Joseph, of Mt. Airy, Georgia, Jacob Brown, of Rome, Georgia, Merritt Cates, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Lea and Ben Cates, of Columbia, South Carolina, Chance, Blake, Jack, and Jessica Cates, of Milton, Georgia, Luke and Anna Lee Capps, of Johnson City, Tennessee; and great-grandchild, Maya June Brown; brothers, Steve (Shirley) Cates, of Oak Ridge, Pete (Judy) Cates, of Powell; several nieces and nephews. 

The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, at Glenwood Baptist Church of Powell, with a celebration of life to follow at 4:00 p.m., with Rev. Travis Henderson officiating. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Glenwood Baptist Church of Powell Renovation Fund, 7212 Central Avenue Pike, Powell, Tennessee 37849. Click Funeral Home and Cremations 9020 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee is serving the Cates Family www.clickfh.com.