Flora, Oregon
Jeniece E. “Jenny” Cate, 57, died March 12, 2005, at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, Wash. She was born on Aug. 24, 1947 in Enterprise to Glenn (Blackie) McElroy and Jean Burleigh McElroy.
Mrs. Cate grew up in Flora and Irrigon. She graduated in 1965 from Riverside High School and attended Blue Mountain Community College. She enjoyed reading, knitting, science fiction movies and cats.
In 1970 she married Robert Cate and they had four children together. They divorced in 1983. She moved back to Irrigon in 1981 from Happy Camp, Calif. She worked for Cong Agra for 23 years and was working at the time of her illness. She also sold Avon in the Irrigon area.
She is survived by her adopted mother Marguriete McElroy of Milton-Freewater; children Kent Cate of Boardman, Kurt and Lisa Cate of Pendleton, Robert and Rockie Cate of Pendleton and Fawn Cate of Irrigon; aunt Joan Plummer of Fairbanks, Ala.; sister DeeAnn Drake of Hermiston; grandchildren Ryan and Tori Cate Derick, Jessie of Hermiston, Brittany Rae of Boardman, Billie Jack and Ashley; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and many good friends, including Melanie Sellers.
She was preceded in death by her parents Glenn and Jean Burleigh McElroy, grandparents Wendell and Ida Hinton Burleigh and grandparents George and Lillian McGraw McElroy.
Funeral Service will be held on Thursday at the Irrigon Senior Center. Burial will follow on Friday at 11:30 a.m. at the Enterprise Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Stokes Landing Senior Center, P.O. Box 614, Irrigon, OR 97844 or to the Tri-Cities Kidney Center, 510 N. Colorado Suite B, Kennewick, WA 99336. Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
Wallowa County Chieftain – Thursday, March 17, 2005