Judy Faye (Marchman) Cates

Judy Faye (Marchman) Cates was born Aug. 30, 1931, in Quinton, Oklahoma, to Rachel Sarah (Basden) and Roy Marchman. She passed away peacefully on Dec. 30, 2020, into the arms of Jesus. She leaves behind her husband of 73 years, Lannis J. Cates, her daughter, Patricia (Cates) Funk and husband Howard, her son, Alan and wife Lori Cates, her granddaughters Jamie (Funk) Gonzales and Corey, Carly (Cates) Maxwell and Cody, Mallory (Cates) Reese and Justin, and grandson Ryan Funk. She also leaves behind her 8 great grandchildren whom she adored.

Her first 5 years were spent in Oklahoma. She moved to Shafter with her mother and four siblings in the fall of 1936, and would live the remainder of her life in Shafter and Bakersfield. From an early age, Judy knew what it meant to work. In those days, if you didn't work, you didn't eat. She attended Shafter schools and met her future husband at Shafter High in study hall. They married on Sept. 2, 1947.

Judy attended the South Shafter Mennonite Church when she was a young girl and accepted the Lord as her Savior. After Judy and Lannis married, she attended the Shafter Pentecostal Church of God and later the Sunshine Church in Oildale.

Judy had a career of 37 years with California Planting Seed at the Cotton Research Station in Shafter where she was employed as a fiber lab technician. Judy loved the people she worked with and the years spent at the facility.

Judy's life was one of caregiving, hospitality, and family. She loved to cook for friends and family. If any of her children, grandchildren or great grandchildren had an event, you could rest assured she would be there to support them. We all loved Nana's yummy apricot jam, curling up with an afghan she had crocheted for each of us, or eating raisins she had dried.

After retirement Judy and Lannis traveled all over the United States in their RV with friends. They also purchased a mobile home in Oceano where they would enjoy the coast. Those times were happy ones.

Judy's last years were more difficult. First she developed cancer, then suffered severe burns, and finally Alzheimer's. We are grateful for the wonderful care she received in her final days at Carrington of Shafter. Alicia, Brittany, Amanda, and the entire staff did their very best to comfort mom and us during the tough times of 2020. We are also extremely grateful to the nurses and caregivers from Hoffman Hospice. Special thanks to Mary Ann, Mona, and Veronica.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents and all of her brothers and sisters. Kenny Marchman and Carl Kuhlman, Jr., Lorene, Irene, Betty, Syble, and Rita.

Viewing will be at Peters Funeral Home in Shafter on Thursday, Jan. 7, from 2 to 8 p.m. A graveside memorial service will be held at Shafter Memorial Park on Friday, Jan. 8, at 11 a.m. Unfortunately due to covid-19, masks and social distancing will be required and there will be no gathering after the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 1401 Commercial Way, Suite 210, Bakersfield, CA 93309 or to Hoffman Hospice, 4325 Buena Vista Road, Bldg. A, Bakersfield, CA, 93311, would be greatly appreciated.