Syble Wayne Goins Cates left this earthly life to go to her Heavenly home on March 20, 2005 at 9:15 am in Silsbee, TX. She was born Januray 31, 1920.
Loved ones preceding her to their Heavenly home were her husband Joseph (Joe) A. Cates, her parents Addie and Harry Goins, her son Nolan Gene Cates, her brothers Lance V. Goins Sr., Allen Vernon 'Tunney' Goins, granddaughter Dana Lanell Midkiff, great-granddaughter Haylee Noel Harrison and son-in-law Darval L. Midkiff Sr.
Syble was an avid cook and always had something cooked and usually plenty of company to partake of her delicious food. She loved cooking and enjoyed entertaining others. She enjoyed canning the vegetables she and her family raised on their farm.
She was only about 16 years old when she met the man of her dreams - a fairly new comer to the community. She & Joe Cates were married January 13, 1937. They moved around alot while Joe followed the oilfields, working in states like Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma, Louisiana and all over Texas. We kids heard many tales of their exciting adventures 'on the road', as they would say. I don't think Mother had even been out of Texas until she met our daddy. Times were really hard back then. There wasn't always an abundance of work to be had and wages were not much to brag about. However, they worked hard and stayed together through thick and thin. I'm sure there were times when they would have gladly given up and threw their hands up. However, they perservered because of the love they had for one another.
My mother was a very smart person. She helped folks with their book work. Syble also did income taxes for folks. She loved a challenge. If the radio, TV or any appliance went out, we didn't buy another until she tried fixing it. Many times she was able to fix it and saved daddy money. She could drive anything, from mules to a tractor, and loved doing it. If you told her she couldn't do something, well then, stand back, because she was gonna show you up.
She loved to read and she loved anything to do with math. That was a favorite subject for her in school.
She was instrumental in getting electricity down in what used to be called 'The Thicket', a part of Gum Slough in Buna. She went around and talked most of the old-timers into signing up and paying the $20 or so they needed to get the electricity down that far in Jasper county. Someone asked her one day "Syble, why are you doing this?" She replied "So my kids won't ruin their eyes getting their homework." It's really no fun trying to read or do homeowork by kerosene lamplight. I think everyone was happy she did this and got us electric lights.
As far back as we can remember, mother always entered the Readers Digest Sweepstakes. My sister Bonnie and I picked that up from her. None of us has ever won anything, but like mother, we keep trying.
Mother was the 2nd child with her brother, Lance, being the first born. Syble was a determined little girl and she got into the habit of 'running the show'! Her sisters Johnnie and Tot and her younger brother Allen 'Tunney' just more or less let her have the say in most things. I guess we all did.
Syble, Joe, his brother James and his wife, Ollie Cates bought a variety store in Buna back in the late 40's. They ran it for awhile but decided that wasn't their niche in life and sold it. That was about the only time Syble worked outside the home.
Syble is survived by four children, Syble Jo Midkiff, Bonnie Harrison and husband, Dudley, Arnold Cates and wife, Wanda, and Royce Cates and wife, Jo Evelyn, all of Buna. She has two sisters, Johnnie Lucille DeVries and Faye 'Tot' Nelams and husband, Danny, all of Buna. She has 16 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and 3 great,great-grandchildren. She also has several nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
The great-grandchildren will be pallbearers. They are Derek Clark, Caleb Clark, Madisen Marks, Jordan Harrison, Ethan Clark and Mitchell Flowers.
Services will be at Farmers Funeral Home in Silsbee Tuesday afternoon, March 22, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. Elder Walter Clark of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will officiate. Burial will follow in Cates Family Cemetery in Buna.
written by Syble Midkiff
