Milton Alfred Cate

Milton Alfred (Al) Cate passed peacefully January 1, 2017 at age 94 in Granbury, Texas. Alfred was an always kind, generous, and genuine man who cared deeply for his family.He was born December 5, 1922 in Desdemona, Texas to John Matthew Cate and Letha Mae Rouse. He grew up in Big Spring, Texas where he met the love of his life Nan Carpenter Cate who he married July 14, 1945. He proudly served in the Naval Air Corp as an Aviator in World War II, mostly flying the F4U Corsair.He was an industrious and competent worker and natural leader from an early age. He became an assistant manager at a department store in Big Spring while still in high school. After the War, he and Nan returned to Howard County and farmed a few years. The couple opened a rural mercantile store in Howard County in April 1951. In 1955, he had the opportunity to become manager of a mercantile store south of Pecos in Reeves County with Nan as the bookkeeper. They eventually became owners of Verhalen Mercantile. They lived at Verhalen from 1955 until her death in 2010.While still operating the store, his compassion for the plight of others led him to instigate and develop the Madera Valley Water Supply Corporation. There was no water system in the rural areas of the county. If there was running water in homes it was from personal wells that seldom produced potable water. Alfred saw how women would pull buckets of water from open irrigation ditches to wash clothes in tubs in their yards. He knew that was an unacceptable condition. He and other community leaders organized to secure funding to create this rural water supply corporation. In 1969 he was appointed manager & operator which he did until retiring in 1993.Incorporated in 1969, Madera Valley WSC was the 500th rural water system in Texas funded by the Farmers Home Administration. Alfred was the Director for District 2 at the planning meetings as they created the Texas Association of Rural Water Corporations. Alfred was elected to the State Board of Directors from 1969-1993, serving as State President 1977-1979. He was honored at the 40th Annual Meeting in 2009 as a founding Director.Alfred held many local church positions in the United Methodist Church over the years. During retirement, among other duties he was historian for Pecos First United Methodist Church where he compiled and wrote a history of that church and the pastors who served there. He served on the Archives Commission of the UMC New Mexico Annual Conference. He and Nan were avid genealogists.Alfred was a Free Mason for more than 65 years. He was a rock and fossil collector mostly concentrating in the foothills of the Davis Mountains. He built and bought equipment to cut geodes, agate and petrified wood creating display pieces and stone bookends. He also made rings and other jewelry from cut and polished stone. He was an untrained but natural artist creating detailed pencil and pen & ink drawings. He started oil painting before macular degeneration took its toll on his eyesight.For all his accomplishments in a lifetime of service, he remained a quiet and respected man who didn’t seek the limelight or recognition. He was a man whose life reflected a strong work ethic, a sincere concern for the well being of others and a devotion to his family. He did as Micah advised to act justly and love mercy, and to walk humbly with his God.Alfred was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Nan Carpenter Cate; son, Bruce Cate, brother, CA (Adrian) Cate and sister, Anita Cate Squires.Survivors: Son, D. Michael Cate and wife Suzanne; Daughter, Molly Cate Johnson and husband Vic; Granddaughter, Hilary Cate and wife Lacey; Granddaughter, Robin Cate Coolidge and husband Colin; Grandson, Gabriel Cate and wife Allison; Grandson, Kory Peterson and wife Ashley; Granddaughter, Kelly Peterson Collins and husband Tyler; Great Granddaughters, Soren Cate and Caya Cate.Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Acton United Methodist Church, 3433 Fall Creek Hwy, Granbury, TX 76049; First Methodist Church, 1301 S Plum St., Pecos, TX 79772; Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org/donate <http://www.alz.org/donate> or to the charity of your choice.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences may be made at: www.npwelch.com ,