Katherine Kae (Rowley) Cates

Katherine “Rusty” Cates, 91, of Montross, VA passed away in her home on November 14, 2021, surrounded by her loving family. Rusty grew up in Washington, DC, seven blocks from Union Station, where she loved roller skating, visiting art galleries and free concerts on Friday nights, and most of all, going to her grandparent’s ice cream shop in Georgetown, which was the best treat!

Most of us associate Rusty with living in North Beach, MD where she loved to fish, have crab feasts in her backyard, and always have the Redskins game on. Rusty was a fierce woman – holding fast to her beliefs, defending those she loved, and always availing herself to friends and family. Understanding that five of her closest girlfriends followed her to North Beach, MD to take up residence should attest to her loyalty and kindness. Although Rusty was 91 years old, her mind was still sharp! Just weeks before, she recounted living in WDC during the World War referred to as the “Blackout” years and told her story of how the city was when President Kennedy was assassinated. These are only a few of the amazing events she experienced during her walk on this earth. When Rusty found out her health was fading, she turned to her daughters and said,  Let’s go shopping.” When you see six young men in football gear carrying her casket, don’t worry- we haven’t forgotten funeral etiquette.  As her health began to rapidly decline, two days before she passed, she commented in her feisty tone, she hadn’t planned on going anywhere, “at least not until the Redskins won.”  Lo and behold, the Washington Football Team had a triumphant victory on her date of death, November 14, 2021. We will see Rusty again when we meet in heaven, in the meantime…… she’s gone fishing! 

Rusty is survived by her daughters, Patricia (Larry) Vincent and Nancy (Guy) Lombardi; brother, James Rowley; 11 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, Milton Frank and Ethel Cecilia (Merritt) Rowley; husband, John Robert Cates; son, Robert “Skippy” Cates; daughter, Barbara Jo Young and brothers, Vincent and Robert Rowley.

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