Kathleen Witt Cates' Obituary
We write to you today with the very sad news that Kathy Cates passed away on Friday, May 26. As you may have known, Kathy had a bovine heart valve installed about 8 years ago, and she was undergoing a procedure to try to repair that valve. The procedure was unsuccessful, and her heart stopped several times before doctors could finally revive her and put her on a heart/lung machine. Upon consultation with many of her doctors, our family realized the hard truth that Kathy would not be able to survive on her own without the machine. It was her wish that she not be kept alive artificially by a machine, and honoring those wishes we removed life support as she peacefully transitioned. Please share this sad news with others that you think may have known Kathy as it is hard for us to be sure to communicate with everyone. We share the snippet below as somewhat of an obituary posting.
Thank you,
Kathy’s loving family.
Kathleen Witt Cates, born September 15, 1945, died on Friday, May 26, 2023. At the time of her passing she was surrounded by her husband Donley, and her sons Brian and Jason. Kathy had just recently spent time with her sons, dauthters-in-law, children, and grandchildren for Mother’s Day, and again on the Wednesday prior to her passing. Growing up in Santa Monica, CA, Kathy earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Whitman College, and a Master’s of Science Degree from Indiana University. She worked as a BioChem research associate at the Scripps Institute in San Diego, and later met Donley at their apartment complex. They married on February 27, 1971 and had two sons Brian and Jason.
Kathy was devoted to her children’s lives, including her role as Team Mom for many a soccer team and baseball team, providing swim lessons for neighborhood kids, and her efforts at Holmes Elementary School to introduce physical education in her “Motor Lab”. She volunteered extensively in the PTA including in the schools her sons attended, and in the early 90’s as a representative of the PTA at a state level within the California state government. For many years Kathy was an avid golfer, part of the Women’s Club at Morgan Run CC, and made 5 holes in one during her playing career. For more than 30 years Kathy, Donley, and their family traveled extensively throughout the world and enjoyed great vacations together.
Kathy leaves behind her husband of 52 years, Donley, sons Brian and Jason, daughters-in-law Nicole and Richelle, grandchildren Jordan, Hazel, Harper, and Emmett, and her older brothers Elliot and Kenneth. Kathy will be missed greatly by all of those whose lives she touched, and our family is grateful for everyone’s well wishes. A Celebration of Life is being coordinated by the family at the end of July. In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family encourages you to donate to a cause that Kathy cared deeply about, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (https://sdzwa.org/memorial)
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