Obituaries

Lela Cate

CLEVELAND Lela R. Cate, 91, died Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, surrounded by her daughters.The oldest daughter of James Roy and Sallie Cleveland Ramsey, she was born and raised in Bradley County. A well know musician, she was the organist for over 40 years at First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, as well as a piano teacher and accompanist for many musicians in the Cleveland and surrounding areas.She would want to be remembered as the wife for over 68 years to her high school sweetheart, the mother to three daughters and grandmother to five. Her home was a place of joy and laughter not only for her family but to countless friends as well.Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Lee Cate; son-in-law, Tom Varnell; and brother-in-law, Harold Jernigan.She is survived by daughters, Paula Varnell, Amanda (Don) Willoughby and Mollie (Rusty) McAmis; grandchildren, Mary (Michael) Duff-McNulty, Paul McAmis, David Duff, Elizabeth McAmis and Catherine Willoughby. She is also survived by two sisters, Betty (Mitchell) Lyle and Mary Jernigan as well as many loving nieces and nephews.Visitation will be held from noon until 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, with the Memorial Service to follow immediately at First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, Tenn., with Dr. Joseph R. Tanner and lay Pastor Wayne Carter officiating.In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials be made to: First Presbyterian Church, Broad Street United Methodist Church, and Hospice of Chattanooga or to the charity of your choice.You are encouraged to share a memory of Lela and/or your personal condolences with her family by visiting her memorial web page and guest book at www.companionfunerals.com.Companion Funeral & Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the Cate family with these arrangements.

Published February 22, 2013

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