Obituary of Loretta Mae Cates

Loretta Mae (Dralle) Cates, 79, was called home to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 28, 2016 from complications due to Alzheimer’s Disease. Loretta was born to Wilbur and Elizabeth Dralle in Attica, Indiana. Loretta and her sister Ruth grew up on farms near Watseka, Illinois. Loretta married Joseph (Joe) Cates, Jr. of Key West, FL in 1955. The Air Force had stationed Joe in Illinois. Joe was the oldest of thirteen children. Joe and Loretta had many businesses through the years. Their first was an egg farm in Illinois. Later, they moved to the Florida Keys and had a construction company, a building supply store, a landscaping & nursery business, and a garage. Loretta was the bookkeeper. There was a lot of stress in their lives due to the challenges of business. They both worked very hard and enjoyed raising their three children. Loretta loved much. She loved family, friends, children, animals, and plants. She had a quick smile and laugh and the special ability to laugh at herself. After Joe passed away in 1994, Loretta returned to Watseka, Illinois to be near her parents and sister and family. Loretta had lived in the Florida Keys for 31 years. 2013 found Loretta moving to New York to be near one of her daughters. She was also preceded in death by her parents. Loretta is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Diana and Gary Kluball of Clifton Park, NY, and Jolynn and Jim Reynolds of Cudjoe Key, FL; son, Joey Cates of Valparaiso, IN; sister Ruth and husband Gerald Behrens and their son Greg and wife Karol – all of Watseka, IL; ten grandchildren, Emily, Aaron, Adam, Megan, Joshua, Jacob, Theresa (Loammi), Natalie, Elizabeth, James; four great-grandchildren, Bryce, Braylee, Aidan, Cecily, and over 60 nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 10 a.m. at King of Kings Lutheran Church located at 1593 Crescent Road, Clifton Park, New York, 12065 and a graveside service in Key West, Florida and/or Watseka, Illinois at a later date. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to one of the churches that were such an important part of her life: Grace Lutheran, Key West, Florida; Faith Lutheran, Watseka, Illinois; King of Kings Lutheran, Clifton Park, New York.