Christopher Thomas Cates, age 41, of the Dublin community passed away on Friday, October 6, 2023 at Ray & Kay Eckstein Hospice Care Center in Paducah, KY.

He grew up in the Cuba Community and attended the Cuba Church of Christ.  Chris attended Cuba and Farmington Elementary Schools and was in the first 8th grade class at GCMS. His high school years were spent at GCHS where he was active in Agape; competed on the Forensic team; and was elected to the Student Council. Throughout his school years Chris had a clear focus of attending a Christian university and majoring in Bible. In fact he was known to carry his Bible to school and when he began to drive, his choice of a key chain had a large cross. Another trait that Chris was known for throughout these years was forgetting things. Therefore, people were always collecting the forgotten items for him. A custodian at GCHS once came straight to Chris when he found car keys in the boys' restroom because they were on a cross keychain, and he knew Chris was a forgetter and a Christian. His school life reflected his passion for God even in his teenage years.

Other activities in school included some sports. He tried football probably because of his maternal grandmother, and he played tennis since he would have to be at the courts anyway because of his mother and brother.  However, he later pursued his tennis interest by helping coach the sport at GCHS. Additionally, coed softball at Cuba was a summer evening activity while many summer days were spent in and around water. Chris became a lifeguard and later a swimming teacher and coach because of this early passion. While Chris played sports to be social and spend time with family and friends, his real love was in owning and enjoying action figures; playing video games; and finally becoming a wrestling enthusiast. An achievement that combined all these interests was his becoming a Second Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

The discipline and hard work he learned through that achievement; scholarships from his home congregation; his great grandmother's foresight and generosity; enabled Chris to achieve his early goal and earn his Bible degree at Freed Hardeman University in 2005. While at FHU Chris performed and traveled with the Sonshine Singers as far away as England, Belgium and Scotland. He also went with a mission group of close friends to Barbados. Summers while in college were spent working as youth minister interns in Maryville, TN; Springfield, IL; and San Jose, CA.

Soon after graduation Chris married Kelli Sue Dawdy whom he had met at FHU. They had a long distance courtship due to her living in Stuart, FL and his living in Cuba, Kentucky. During this time they had lengthy and frequent phone conversations in which Chris paced on his toes from one end of the house to the other or from the front yard to the backyard again and again. His uncle pointed out that he could have walked to her house and back during these phone visits.

Soon after they married, Kelli's commitment was tested because their first church was in Needles, California which was very hot and very far away. But Kelli supported Chris totally, made the move, and continued to love and support him as they made their next move, which was no closer to home, working in youth ministry in Phoenix, Arizona. After ministering in both of these places they finally returned to Graves County in 2010 where they began working with the youth at the Antioch Church of Christ.

Also during this time Chris substituted in the Graves County School system and through this connection began to work in Graves and nearby counties counseling students about college and career opportunities through Gear Up Kentucky. While living in Graves County, Chris was given another opportunity for service by accepting a position on the Lighthouse Board and then becoming the president of that board.

In 2014 Chris became the minister of the Macedonia Church of Christ in Graves County. While ministering there, Chris also began work with New Pathways Home for Children. In 2018 Chris started full time work at the home with his boys and continued there until February 2023. He loved his boys and sought to make a difference in their lives. Impacting people's lives for good and for God was all he ever wanted to do, and he accomplished this goal with the help and support of his Kelli while they laughed and loved through their almost seventeen years side by side.

Chris is survived by his wife, Kelli Cates; his parents, George, Jr. and Judy Holloway Cates of Cuba, KY; one brother, Ken Cates of Louisville, KY; his paternal step-grandmother, Margaret Cates of Murray, KY; his maternal grandmother, Van Holloway of Mayfield, KY; and three nieces, Audrey Dawdy of Port St. Lucie, FL, Kenleigh and Khloe Cates both of Louisville, KY.

Funeral services for Mr. Christopher Thomas Cates will be 2:00 p.m. on Monday, October 9, 2023 at Byrn Funeral Home in Mayfield, KY.  Ricky Burse will officiate.  Interment will follow at Cuba Church of Christ Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Gage Dunn, Garrett Dunn, Hallic Dunn, Bill Cates, Gaylon Jolley, Caleb Cannon, Kidron Cannon and Ahmed Dee.  The boys from New Pathways for Children will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Visitation will be 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: New Pathways for Children, P.O. Box 10, Melber, KY 42069-0010.