Steven Lee Cate
Steven Lee Cate, 57, of El Dorado, Ark., passed away peacefully on March 16, 2021, at Baptist Health in Little Rock.
He was born on November 23, 1963, at Ramey Air Force Base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, to Bennie E. and Merle Cate. Steven grew up primarily in Bossier City. He graduated from Airline High School, where he was a standout in track and field in the events of shot put, discus and javelin.
He set many conference records which garnered him a full scholarship to Louisiana Tech University. While at Tech he achieved All-American status twice in the shot put among other distinctions. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in human relations and supervision.
Louisiana Tech is where he met the most enchanting woman he had ever seen. After five years of dating, they married. From this deep, abiding love came a daughter and a son. Steve’s greatest role in this world was father. He was a loving, kind, intellectual man who loved reading, hunting and most things in between. He was handy and could fix almost anything except during deer season.
Although he spent many years in human resources, he truly enjoyed the last five years as a locksmith and safe technician. A confident man with a strong moral code, he demonstrated courage and integrity in how he lived his life. It was here that his Christian faith revealed itself. He could be outspoken, but always tried to treat others with respect. He was incredibly hardworking, generous, and a loyal friend.
Preceding him in death are his mother, Merle Cate; brother-in-law, Ben McFadden; and father-in-law, Richard I. “Buddy” McFadden.
Those left to cherish his life are his wife of 28 years, Abby McFadden Cate; daughter, Erin Cate McCoy (Cody); son, Dalton Cate; father, Bennie Cate; brother, Mark Cate (Terri); mother-in-law, Sue McFadden; brothers-in-law, Joe McFadden (Christie) and Jonathan Hughes; sisters-in-law, Rachel Stanley (Tony) and Kathleen Hughes; nieces, Amber Cate Morgan (Eric) and Siobahn Stanley; nephew, Christopher Smith (Haley); and his first grandchild, Presleigh McCoy, whom he adored immediately.
He will live on in his clever observations, smart aleck comments, undeniable sense of humor and the countless stories we all have. He was remarkable.
Visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2021, at Parkers Chapel United Methodist Fellowship Hall followed by Memorial Service at 3 p.m. at Parkers Chapel United Methodist Church under the direction of Perry’s Funeral Chapels.
