Funeral services for Evelyn Cater, 95, of Elida, will be held at 10:00 AM, Fri, June 22, 2018 in the Elida United Methodist Church with Pastor Beth Anthony officiating. Burial will follow in the Elida Cemetery with Ray Martin, Joe Gilmore, Buddy Taylor, Darwin Chenault, Monte Howard and James Johnson serving as pallbearers. All family friends will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Ruth Evelyn Cater was born July 9, 1922 in Elida to the home of Alice Hannah (Nelson) and Silas McCabe and died peacefully on the morning of June 18, 2018 at her home on the family ranch south of Elida. Mrs. Cater attended grade school at Pleasant Valley and then graduated from Elida High School in 1940. Shortly after graduating, she and her sister, Kathryn, went to CA to find work. When World War II broke out, their father sent them money to come back home. For the next few years she helped several families by taking care of their children, as well as working on the family ranch with her father. On May 4,1944 in Kenna, she was married to Oliver E. Cater. When he returned from serving in the War effort, they began ranching, and moved to her current home in 1947.
Mrs. Cater was a faithful member of the Elida Methodist Church. She enjoyed gardening, and continued to mow her own lawn until after she was 87 years old. Other things she enjoyed were sewing and quilting. Evelyn also liked to read and do scrapbooking. At random times through the day, she would stop what she was doing and play the piano.
She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Shirley Cater of Elida; two grandchildren, Terry Cater of Lovington and Rusty and Amanda Cater of Elida; and three great-grandchildren, Aidan Berry, Astrid Berry and Adam Cater. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Barney, M. J. and George McCabe, three sisters, Eloise Erwin, Lucille Gibson and Kathryn Newman, and by her beloved husband, Oliver who died April 16, 1998 after almost 54 years of marriage.
