Norman Barron Cates was born January 19, 1927 in San Antonio, Texas, to Alewine Barron and Mattie April Duke Cates.  He entered heaven at noon on July 22, 2022, in LaRue, Texas.

Norman lived in San Antonio during his early years and graduated from Brackenridge  High School early so he could join the U.S. Navy and enter WW 2 to serve his country.  While he was in the Navy, his sister and stepmom met a neighbor in Dallas, where they had moved, Ruth Shraer, who had an eligible teenage daughter, Lillian Coulter, who they volunteered to write to Norman while he was deployed. Their letters progressed from penpal to friends to loveletters over the 18 months they exchanged correspondence. In fact, Norman became so anxious to meet this girl, he took a leave from San Diego to Dallas which resulted in a punishment for being late returning.

After the war Norman was honorably discharged and moved to the Dallas area where his dad and his stepmom Katherine Cates had moved.

On July 3, 1947, Norman married Lillian, and together they raised three daughters: Cynthia, Marilyn, and Rebecca.  Norman was hired by Vought Corporation and the family moved to Grand Prairie where he worked for over 25 years. After retiring, Norman and Lillian moved to Dixie Isle at Cedar Creek Lake where they lived for 25 more years. Then they returned to DFW (a garden home in Waxahachie) where they lived 20 more years until recently.

Norman and Lillian were faithful members of and Sunday School teachers at Bethel Temple Assembly of God Dallas, then Calvary Temple Athens, then University Assembly Waxahachie, and lastly First Assembly Waxahachie.  They were part of the group of founders of Straight Arrow Camp from Bethel Temple in the 1950s, where they were both counselors for over 20 years and Norman was known as "Ski Daddy" for those years, teaching hundreds of children to water ski.

Norman is predeceased by his parents, his wife Lillian, his daughter Rebecca, and his great-grandson Dustin.

He leaves behind his daughters Cynthia Dingler (George), and Marilyn Cerna  (Javier), grandchildren Jennifer Dickson (Davis), Shannon Brown (William), Melissa Beck (James), Elizabeth Monica Veaux (George), Nadia Bowman (Christopher), Joy Smith, Selanya Beckham, Joshua Chandler,  great-grandchildren Brittany Miller (Brandon), Justine Featherston, Brannon Henrie, Darien Henrie, Blazer Beck,  Nicholas Dingler, Maxine Beck, Jadon Henrie, Jeremiah Bowman, Liliana Bowman, Matthew Smith, Haley Smith and Joey Smith, and several great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Straight Arrow Camp or Silver Serenaders.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 am and funeral service will begin at 11:00 am, both on July 27th 2022 at Jeter and Son Funeral Home, 332 Cedar Street, Cedar Hill, Texas 75104.  Burial will be at DFW National Cemetary Wednesday August 3, 2022.