Dorothy Nell (Hall) Cate

Dorothy Nell (Hall) Cate, 96, longtime Moses Lake resident, passed away Saturday, September 26, 2009 at her home.

Private services will be held at Pioneer Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel and Crematory, Moses Lake. Please sign the book or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com.

Dorothy was born on November 19, 1912 in Hamlin, Texas, daughter of the late John E. and Sallie B. (Brown) Hall. She graduated from Greenland High School as Valedictorian in 1931. During high school Dorothy played 3 court basketball on a team of 6 girls that won their region. This was certainly a big deal for that time period. She was married to Russell G. Cate on September 8, 1934 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They had three children, Nyta Lynn Coombs, Cheri Friday and Doyle Cate (Sherry).

They moved to Vancouver, Washington in 1942 and Dorothy became one of the original Rosie-the-Riveter, working in the ship yards as the first lady crane operator.

In 1947 they then moved to Moses Lake when the population was only 350 and there was still board walks along Broadway Avenue and there were movies once a week in an old house on Broadway. Dorothy made draperies at Selden Furniture and was an interior decorator for Staats Furniture.

She is survived by 3 children, Nyta Lynn Coombs, Moses Lake, Cheri Friday, Yakima, and Doyle (Sherry) Cate, Wenatchee; 13 grandchildren, Ron (Laurie) Coombs, Shawn (Kathy) Coombs, Kelly (Scott) Grigg, Scott (Carol) Coombs, Christopher (Joey) Coombs, Cameron Coombs, Chandra (Steve) Rodriguez, Christy Clasen, Holly (James) Phillips, Jason (Shalina) Henderson, Heath (Kelly) Cate, Stacey (Rob) Hansen; 23 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Russell Cate, beloved granddaughter, Tanya Lynn Friday, grandson-in-law, Steve Olson, and two sons-in-law, Weldon Coombs and Clint Friday.