Talmadge Louis Cates, 82, passed away Feb. 7, 2025, in Fairfield, at Fairview Nursing Home, due to complications of Parkinson’s Disease. He was born Nov. 5, 1942, in Wichita Falls, to TalmadgeA. and Maud B. Cates and grew up inTyler.
Throughout his educational journey, Talmadge was known to be an excellent student and athlete, staying busy in many activities including Boy Scouts, having become the proud recipient of the highest rank of Eagle Scout. During high school he played basketball and baseball and was able to pursue both passions well into his college years. After graduating from John Tyler High School in 1961, he played basketball while attending Tyler Junior College and then received a baseball scholarship to Centenary College in Shreveport, La., where he finished his education with a degree in Chemistry. He frequently shared how much he loved his years as a baseball pitcher, reflecting on his memories from little league through college, and was especially proud of being able to play for a brief time in the minor leagues. After graduating from Centenary College, Talmadge worked as a chemist, developing ink in a lab for Ennis Business Forms in Ennis. He then served as an air traffic controller in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War from 1968-1972. He was always so proud of being a veteran and having served in the United States Navy.
Talmadge was able to live a full, rich life, pursuing many dreams, careers, and passions. Throughout the years he lived in many different places and worked in sales, in real estate, and in business. In 1981, he moved to Freestone County, where he met and fell in love with Susan “Susie” Lawrence Awalt. They married on March 19, 1982, and were blessed to enjoy almost 43 years of marriage together. Talmadge loved being part of the church and the community. He was active in Methodist Men, played church softball, volunteered at the church, and served as president of the Fairfield Rotary Club. He especially enjoyed coaching his kids on their t-ball and softball teams and creating special memories with their large, blended family, especially on summer trips to the beach.
In 1990, Talmadge was blessed to be able to fulfill his “Southwest Dream” by moving the family to Albuquerque, N.M, where he began his hobby of building and selling custom furniture. While in New Mexico, he especially enjoyed being outdoors, fishing, golfing, hiking, and skiing as often as he could. Talmadge enjoyed visiting with friends and bragging about his kids and grandkids and his beloved little lapdog, Roxie. He loved sharing his Navy stories, baseball stories, and golf stories, often reminiscing and reminding his friends about the time he shot a hole-in-one at the Freestone Country Club. Talmadge worked hard to instill his Christian faith and values into the lives of his children and those around him.
Talmadge was preceded in death by his parents, Talmadge A. and Maud; his youngest daughter, Laura Cates Budzinski; and parents-in-law, Richard M. (Dick) and Marie Lawrence. He is survived by his wife, Susie; and children, Lynette Cates Jones, of Arlington, Jennifer Cates Andjelic and husband Mike of Livingston, Sarah Cates Megale of Galveston; Sabrina Awalt Keller of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Andy Awalt and wife Tracy, of Fairfi eld; son-in-law, Brad Budzinski of Bentonville, Ark; 12 grandchildren, Stephen (Natalie) and Brandon (Frances) Jones, Garrett and Abby Farley, Alexa, Adam, and Owen Megale, Cameron Budzinski, Evan and Ryan Keller, Lucas and Jacob Awalt, and three-great-grandchildren, Ellie, Maddox and Josie Jones.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Fairfield First United Methodist Church or charity of your choice.
A family visitation will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 10 to 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church with a memorial service at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Mike McVey officiating.
Services are under the direction of Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home in Fairfield.
