Betty Carolyn Cates

Betty Carolyn Cates, 77, of Orange, Texas, passed away on December 20, 2017 in Orange.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 27, 2017, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Chaplain Kevin Trinkle. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Johnson City, Tennessee on March 20, 1940, she was the daughter of Howard Thomas Johnson and Nora Johnson. Betty proudly served her country in the United States Air Force. She had various jobs over the years including working at the Little Cypress Mauriceville School Cafeteria, DuPont Sabine River Works, and Orange House Retirement Community. Betty was rich in the ways that really mattered to her. She had a very strong faith. She was very involved with her family, never failed to provide for them, adored her grandchildren, and thought the greatest thing in life was children. She loved music, horses, dolphins, and her sweet dogs. Betty will be deeply missed by her friends and family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Nora Johnson; her loving husband, Dixon Lee Cates; daughter, Mary Carolyn Cates; and her brother, Bill Johnson.

Betty is survived by her children, Paul Nathan Baker, Jr. and wife Tammy, of Orange, Sheila Teresa Schoolfield and husband Jack, of Orange, Robert Baker, of Greenville, MO, Gary Thomas Cates, of Orange, and Dixie Dawn Arabie and husband Eric, of Mauriceville; grandchildren, Paul Nathan Baker, III and wife Paula, Tamara Lynnette Baker and Chessa Williams, Rebecca Darlene Roberts and husband Ricky, John “Bo” Schoolfield and wife Cleo, Chris Cates, Brittany Cates, Wendy Cates, Katie Arabie, Wesley Arabie, Trinity Arnold, and Destiny Arnold; 11 great-grandchildren; and her siblings, Mary Jane Delgado, of New Holland, PA, Esther Ann Lefever and husband Barry, of Huntington, IN, and Howard Johnson, Jr. and wife Gale, of Fort Wayne, IN.