Carolyn ‘MeMe’ Cates

Carolyn “MeMe” Cates, 76, of Anna, died Saturday, July 30, 2022, surrounded by her family. 

She was born on Oct. 17, 1945, in Anna, the daughter of George Allen and Mary Magdalene Dirden Crowell. 

She married Ed Cates on Aug. 29, 1961.

She is survived by her  husband, Ed Cates of Anna; three sons, Jeff (Kim) Cates of Cobden, Tracy Cates of Anna and Patrick (Laura) Cates of Cobden; two grandchildren, Jessica Cates (Bryan Todd) and Samantha Cates; two great-grandchildren, Jamie Ford and Creighton Todd; a sister, Alice (Randy) Tucker of Jonesboro; nieces and nephews; many other family and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Becky Johnson;and two brothers, Ed and Wayne Crowell. 

She worked as a cook for School District No. 37 in Anna for many years. In her early years, she worked at Jan’s House of Flowers, but she most loved being MeMe to her grandchildren.  She loved working in her flower garden, cooking, going fishing and game night with her family. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Anna. 

Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna, with the Rev. LaRue Parr and Pastor Bill Littrell officiating. Interment was in Casper Cemetery near Anna.

Memorials can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Casper Cemetery. 

To view the obituary and to leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com. 

Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna was in charge of arrangements.