Clifton M. Cates, Jr.

Clif Cates was born in Burlington, NC on March 26, 1942. He entered Heaven’s gates on August 18th after a courageous battle with cancer. Clif was preceded in death by his parents, Clifton M. Cates Sr. and Lilyas Brown Cates and by his daughter Samantha Proffitt Cates.  He is survived by his wife Judith Ridenhour Cates of Raleigh, sons Clifton M. Cates III “Beau” and wife Elizabeth of Raleigh and Kenneth Parker Cates and wife Liza of Lakeland, Fl.  He is also survived by five grandchildren, Mae Bryant Cates, Martha Ann Cates and Mary Douglas Cates of Raleigh and Ruth Elizabeth Cates and Kenneth Parker Cates Jr. of Lakeland, Fl. He is also survived by a brother Alfred Cates of Wendell, NC and Sue Cutshall of Kansas City, Missouri. Clif was a 1960 graduate of Walter Williams High School of Burlington, NC and a 1965 graduate of Western Carolina College. Upon graduating from college he entered the US Navy and served from 1966-1972. He graduated from Officer Candidates School in Newport, Rhode Island. He served in FICPAC in Honolulu, Hawaii and VQ-2 in Rota, Spain. After leaving the military, he raised his family in Wilson, NC. He had a love for the water, most notably salt water fishing and sailing, watching movies, playing softball and spending time with his dogs and family. He loved all things related to NC State and was happiest tailgating at Wolfpack athletic events surrounded by family and friends. The family would like to offer a special thanks to his close friends at Capitol Towers in Raleigh and to Transitions Life Care who supported and comforted him and his family during his final months. The family will receive friends on Monday, August 22 at 1:00 PM at Bryan-Lee funeral home; 831 Wake Forest Rd., Raleigh. Visitation will be followed by memorial service in the Bryan-Lee chapel at 2:00 PM. Donations may be made to Transitions Life Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.