Carra Williams Cates, 95, of Beaumont, died December 17, 2009, in Houston, Texas. Carra was the daughter of Vessie Fulton, and Lillie Meador Williams, descendants of early settlers of Sabine County, Texas. She was born in Milam Texas, February 23, 1914. She graduated from Hemphill High School in 1931, and attended Chenier Business College in Beaumont. She was an employee of Gulf States Utilities and retired from Baptist Hospital as administrative secretary.

Beaumont was her home and she loved going back to East Texas to visit relatives and long time friends. Carra loved the history, land and people of her native deep east Texas. In addition to being an exceptional homemaker and dedicated business professional, she was active in the P.T.A., Cub Scouts, and worked with her husband in the Youth Department of First United Methodist Church, and in the Trinity Neches Council of the Boy Scouts. She was a member of The First United Methodist Church, and a member and past officer of the Faith Class. She was a proud member of the James Frederick Gomer Chapter of The Daughters of the Republic of Texas in Hemphill, Texas and was an associate member of the Daniel Witcher Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Carra loved learning and creativity. She took enormous joy in her family and her many, dear, lifelong friends. Her interests included, studying and celebrating her faith, history, reading, music, theater, art, dancing, politics, and travel. She was an amazing hostess and cook, well known for her hospitality, conviviality, and especially her homemade rolls, gumbo and the best homemade ice cream ever made.

She was a beloved, loving, responsible and respected mother, grandmother, aunt, daughter, sister and friend. Even in the most unfamiliar or daunting circumstances, she acted with aplomb, a natural born leader. She led by example. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. She was a woman who lived a long, fulfilling life, and by the grace of God, the support of loved ones, and her true grit, saw many, if not all, of her dearest dreams for her family and friends, and herself, come true.

Her beloved husband, John Farley Cates, preceded her in death in May of 1982.

Carra is survived by her sons, John F. Cates and his wife Diane of Houston and William C. Cates and his partner Russell Peters of Dallas; grandsons, Josh Cates and his wife Meagan and Jesse Cates of Austin. She is also survived by her brother, Rudy Williams and his wife Helen of Beaumont; sister-in-law, Mrs. Ann Cates Ramke of Beaumont; nieces and nephews, Susan and Jimmy Simmons of Beaumont, Dick and Jane Williams of Houston, Reed and Martha Williams of Boulder, Colorado, Liz and Steve Hale, Judy and Jim Watts of Marble Falls, Joanna Verrett of Beaumont, and Mikki and Bill Ogden of Dallas; and many great nieces and nephews.

Her funeral service will be 3:00 p.m. Saturday, December 19, 2009, in the Longe Chapel at First United Methodist Church, 701 Calder, Beaumont with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.  A gathering of her family and friends will begin at 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon prior to the service at the church.

Friends so desiring, please direct memorials to the fund of their choice; First United Methodist Church, 701 Calder, Beaumont, Texas 77702; American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 5144, Beaumont, Texas 77726; or to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Donation Department, 6977 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77030.