Charlcie Queen Cates

Sept. 23, 1919 Jan. 1, 2018 Charlcie Queen Cates, 98, died Jan. 1, 2018, at Cox Medical Center in Springfield from complications following a cerebral hemorrhage.

She was born Sept. 23, 1919, in Sheffield, Ala., to John and Nora Fell. The Fell family moved to the Puyallup, Wash., area in the late 1930s. She married Howard A. Cates on Sept. 3, 1940. The couple moved many times during their U.S. Army career, eventually coming home to McDonald County. She raised seven children and was active in Noel’s United Methodist Church and many clubs. She was a talented writer and a student of astrology and yoga. She worked at the Ben Franklin store before moving to Blackfoot, Idaho, with companion Fred K. Merrel. In 2017, she moved to Crane to be close to her daughters.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Fred; and a daughter, Charlcie Milsap.

Survivors include three sons, Allen E. Cates (Lucette) of Lafayette, La., Jerry H. Cates (Janet) of Round Rock, Texas, and John M. Cates (Jong) of Chiang Rai, Thailand; three daughters, Elizabeth A. Oakes (William), and Brenda J. Kaup (Michael), both of Crane, and Martha J. Serna (Pete) of Humble, Texas.

No formal services are planned, but the family will meet at a later date for a memorial service.

Arrangements are by Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson.