Lee Roy Cates

It is with great sadness that the family of Lee Roy Cates announces his unexpected passing on Monday, September 8, 2025, at 87 years of age.

Lee Roy Cates is survived by four daughters and a son (Tammy Jo Cates Turner and Bruce Gibson Turner, Brookeland, TX; Donna Marie Cates Sphar and Asa Rogers Sphar III, Austin, TX; Rhonda Jean Cates Brown, Houston, TX; Sherri Ann Cates Alexander and Craig Alexander, Houston, TX.; Roy James Cates and Jennifer Borel Cates, Lake Charles, LA); fourteen grandchildren ( Mason Spain Turner, Anna Christina Sphar Vander Hook, Bethany Grace Sphar, Lauren Ashley Brown, Clinton Walker Brown, Dillon Cates Brown, Griffin Hunt Brown, Adrianna Cates Alexander, Analise Cates Alexander, Holden James Cates, Gabriel Ned Michael Cates, Lansen Graves Castle, Timothy Stone Castle, Larkin Conner Castle); eleven great grandchildren, ( Eli Turner-Nunez, Eva Turner-Nunez, Avi Turner-Nunez, Ana May Vander Hook, Alaina Jane Brown, Mia Brown, Charlotte Brown, Laramie Sky Brown, Travers Conway Brown, Azden Garner, and Zavaya Garner).

He was preceded in death by his devoted wife, Angie Ann Ragusa Cates, who passed away on February 21, 2022, to whom he was married on June 17, 1957, a brother, Bobby Jo Cates, and his sister, Marilyn Cates.

Born Lee Roy Cates to Irving Malcolm Cates and Ella Mae Osborne in Yancopin, AR, on December 21, 1937, Lee Roy attended West Helena High School, AR, before moving to Baton Rouge, LA, where he graduated from Baton Rouge High.

Lee Roy Studied electronics/electrical engineering at LSU and performed property surveys before purchasing Lamana's Grocery (1959-1961) in Baton Rouge. Completing night school in Electronics Technicians studies at Baton rouge Tech, he passed both LA State's Electronic Technician and the Federal Communications (Second Class) exams, maintaining both licenses until retirement. He attended/led continuing adult education sessions at the University of West Virginia, in Norman, OK, was a licensed pilot, an avid sailor, and a trophy winning golfer.

Lee Roy built an electronics business, LRC Electronics (1961-1964), performing electronic services and repairs. Federal Communications, Second Class, projects included installation of communication systems on Mississippi bridge towers. He bought the first family home while in this business.

He joined Tennessee Gas Pipeline ("TGP") in 1964, remaining with the TGP family of business through retirement on March 31, 1997, after which he performed consulting work for its new owner, El Paso Energy, ("EPE"), through the early 2000s. He managed Y2K related activity for all of EPE's field operations in the USA, developed an employee cross-functional training database, and performed Corporate Audit of facilities of all EPC companies.

Baptized Roman Catholic in 1956, he was active in the Knights of Columbus. Lee Roy was a member of the Arkansas National Guard, Rotary International, Toastmasters International, United States Power Squadron, and the Advisory Board of Sowela Tech. He was a co-founder of G.C.Meaux Life Line, INC, a participant in career days at local high schools, a participant in the implementation of a communication educational program at a Louisiana State Prison, a moderator at political debates, and the web site developer for El Paso Energy, Msgr. Cramers Assembly, Louisiana State Knights of Columbus, St. Theresa Parish, and Alexander Personnel, Inc.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Lee Roy Cates will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 12 PM, at St. Theresa Catholic Church, with Fr, Sibi officiating. Interment will follow at Consolata Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 11, 2025 from 6 until 9 pm, with a recitiation of the rosary at 6:30 PM. Visitation will resume on Friday morning at 10 - 11:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Lee Roy, may be made to St. Theresa Catholic Church.

Words of comfort for the family may be left at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.