Our dear sister, aunt, and free spirit, Nancy Lee Wood Cates, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2025, in Evansville, Indiana at the age of 89.
Nancy was the fourth daughter to prominent Cobb, Kentucky, farmer Garland Wood and his wife Mayme Lee Larkins Wood.
Nancy was a graduate of Butler High School in Princeton, Kentucky, and later went on to be awarded a degree in science by Bethel College in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, which led to her nearly 30-year career as quality supervisor at Mead Johnson in Evansville, Indiana.
Nancy fostered her love of the arts through her many books, movies, records, and CDs alongside her lifelong hobbies of flower gardening, knitting and crochet, and collecting beautiful pieces of art. She traveled throughout the world, visiting her sister Mari Anna in Germany multiple times.
Nancy was noted by family and friends for her generous spirit. She hosted several international students at the University of Southern Indiana and developed a very strong maternal bond with a student from Brazil, Luisa Leite, with whom she stayed in touch through the years.
Most of all, Nancy loved to laugh and spend time with her family. Her sweet smile and loving manner will be missed.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents as well as her sisters Marcella (Murl) Sanders, Betty Wood, Mari Anna Welch; her brother Bobby (Patsy) Wood; her brothers-in-law Murl (Marcella) Sanders and James (Rose) Mitchell; her nephews James Wood and Bruce (Lennie) Sanders; her niece Janice (Larry) Sanders Boyd; and her grand-nephew Alex Hoffmann.
She is survived by her sister Rose (James) Mitchell; her sister-in-law Patsy (Bobby) Mashburn Wood; her nephews James Welch, John (Susanne) Wood, William (Heather) Wood; her nieces Cindy (Bob) Sanders Laxton, Carmela Welch Hoffmann, Endie (Terry) Wood Haney; her grand-nephews Johnston (Ashley), Scott (Lynley) Sanders, Bryce (Caitlin) Laxton, Colby Laxton, Damian Hoffmann, Matthias Hoffmann, Dalton Haney; her grand-nieces Aubree (Kyle) Denton, Piper Boyd, Isabel Laxton, Joy Laxton, Alexis Wood, Addison Wood; her great grand-nephews Brady Boyd, Preston Denton, Graham Denton, Asher Sanders, Manuel Laxton-Alston; and the Charles McAlister Family.
Visitation for Nancy Lee Cates will be held Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Morgan’s Funeral Home from 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Cedar Hill Cemetery with Bro. Dean Ray officiating.
