Ray Wilson Cates, 101, of Birmingham, Alabama, died Friday, January 9, 2026, at his residence surrounded by family.
Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Dogwood Funerals & Cremations of Crofton. Burial will follow in Ridgetop Cemetery. Visitation is Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until the funeral hour. Dogwood Funerals & Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.
A native of Crofton, KY, he was born January 28, 1924, the son of the late James Ray Cates and Nellie Mae Wilson Cates. Ray joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943 and served until 1945, primarily in Guadalcanal. He then graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1950. After graduation, he worked for Moore-Handley in Nashville and was eventually transferred to Birmingham. He later worked for American National Life Insurance, Twenty Services, and Vulcan Life Insurance.
Ray and his wife, Bonnie, were founding members of Roebuck Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For many years, he served as a lay minister in the Christian Church, primarily in Cottondale, AL; Cullman, AL; Jasper, AL; and Birmingham, AL. When he and Bonnie moved to Altadena, AL, they became members of Mountain Chapel Methodist Church.
He had a genuine servant spirit; after retiring, he volunteered at Lake Villa in East Lake, AL, and at the Medical Center East. Ray was a lifelong learner, a voracious reader, and a prayer warrior. He committed to memory a huge amount of Bible verses and other famous literary passages. Ray was a student of military history and a huge Boston Celtics fan. He loved a good joke and was a great storyteller.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnez Croft Cates; his brother, Charles Lee Cates; and his sister-in-law, Mary Cates.
Survivors include his daughters: Cathy (Bill) Ivey of Hoover AL and Lisa (Sam) Jesse of Hoover AL; and his grandchildren: David (Jessica) Ivey, Mary Ivey (Dustin) Edgar, Eric Jesse, Neil Jesse and Samantha Jesse; and his great grandchildren: Abigail Edgar, Hannah Edgar, Rose Ivey and Ty Ivey; and his numerous nieces and nephews.
He almost made it to his 102nd birthday. What a life to celebrate!!
