Robert "Bob" Lee Cates

Robert “Bob” Lee Cates, age 78, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by the family he so dearly loved. A devoted educator, a gifted musician, and a pillar of his community, Bob leaves behind a legacy of service, faith, love, and lifelong learning. Born on April 20, 1947, in the scenic landscape of Roan Mountain, Tennessee, Bob was the only child of Paul Robert Cates and Willie Bernice Hampton Cates. As the "jewel of his parents’ eyes," he grew up with a foundation of love that he would later extend to his own family, church and students. A proud "Highlander," Bob graduated from Cloudland High School in 1965. He continued his education at Carson-Newman College, graduating in 1969, and later earned his Master’s degree from East Tennessee State University (ETSU) in 1972. Bob’s passion for teaching spanned nearly four decades in Hamblen County. His career journey began at West Elementary in the fall of 1969 and then he moved to Lincoln Heights Middle School the first year it opened in 1975 where he taught 6th and 8th grade.  After retiring in 2005 with 37 years of service, he continued to advocate for educators by serving as the President of the Hamblen County Retired Teachers for many years. His influence reached far beyond the local classroom. Bob had the prestigious honor of teaching with National Geographic in Washington, D.C., and traveled to Yantai in China with Carson-Newman to teach English to local educators. Bob’s life was punctuated by a deep love for choral music, a calling that began during his student years at Carson-Newman. For decades, he served as a Music Director for several congregations, sharing his gift with Talbott Baptist Church (serving three separate tenures), Pleasant Grove Piney Baptist, Buffalo Trail Baptist, Bethel Baptist, Alpha Baptist, Hillcrest Baptist, and Calvary Baptist. He ultimately concluded his long and faithful ministry where it often felt most like home, at Talbott Baptist Church. Bob is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Gwendolyn “Gwen” Cates, who was his partner in every season of life. He is also survived by sons, James “Robb” Cates and Christopher “Chris” Cates (Sarah); grandchildren, Abraham (Kaeli), Rosalyn, Jamin, Roman, Grace, and Oliver Cates; great-grandson, Rowan Cates; and sister, and brother in love, Kathy and Brock Henry. Bob will be remembered as a man who found harmony in both music and the classroom, always putting his family and his faith at the center of his world. The family will receive friends from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 8th at Westside Chapel Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 6:30 p.m. with Rev. Wade McCullough officiating. Family and friends will meet at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9th at Jefferson Memorial Gardens for graveside services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bob’s memory to Talbott Baptist Church: 507 Talbott Kansas Road, Talbott, TN 37877. Psalm 104:33 “I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Arrangements by Westside Chapel Funeral Home in Morristown.

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