Raymond L. Cates, 72, of Nederland passed away on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas.

Ray was born in New Albany, Mississippi, on March 23, 1944. He is the son of the late Lewis Ezra Cates and Jeffey Loreda Moore Cates. Ray served in the United States Marines from 1960 to 1969 and was in the National Guard from 1978 to 1980. He was in law enforcement for 35 years of service. He served 8 years with the Port Arthur Police Department and 27 years with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office.

Those left to cherish Ray’s memory are his loving wife, Norma L. Cates of Nederland; children, Michelle Stephenson and husband, Paul of Beaumont; Troy Cates and wife, Joy of Porter, TX, Brian Cates and wife, Traci of Port Neches, Kelly White and husband, Joel of Kingwood, TX; sisters, Becky Wuenschel and husband, Carl of Port Acres and Sherri Cates of Port Arthur; grandchildren, Sarah Fondrick and husband, Michael, Rebekah Stephenson, Matthew Stephenson, Carli Cates, Jacob Cates, Abigail Cates, Austin White, Anna Claire White, Carson White and a host loving nieces and nephews. Ray is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Barbara Torres and Rita Greene

There will be gathering of family and friends on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Melancon’s Funeral Home in Nederland. The funeral service will be on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at Procter Baptist Church in Port Arthur at 10:00 a.m. with burial to follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves.