Bonnie Ray Cates, 86, of El Dorado passed away October 14, 2017 at Ruston Long Term Acute Care facility after a brief illness. He was born March 28, 1931 in Union County, AR., to Willie Leonard and Jessie Mae Edwards Cates.

He served in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. He owned and operated a full service gas station. He was a Mason, a deacon and Sunday school secretary at Union Baptist Church. Bonnie loved his family, church, sports (especially girl's softball), woodworking and the Arkansas Razorbacks.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Elton and Odie Cates; sister, Melba Wagnon and son, Leonard Monroe Cates.

Survivors are his loving wife of 64 years, Edna Louise Eubanks Cates; daughters, Toni Barnett (Jim) and Cindy Woolsey of El Dorado; son, Billy Cates (Carolyn) of Tuscaloosa, AL.; ten grandchildren, Madeline, Lauren, Jac Cates of Pensacola, FL., Tyler Cates (Rosemarie) of San Diego, CA., Michael Sayers (Jessica) of Mellette, SD., Stephanie Bronson (Krista) of Shreveport, LA., Ben Cates (Megan) of Denver, CO., Mary Ann Woolsey Thompson, Anthony Woolsey, Thomas Woolsey (Kaci) of El Dorado; six great grandchildren, Liam Aguilar and Rydian Cates of San Diego, CA., Kali and Lexi Bronson, Abigail Thompson, Echo Shields all of El Dorado and Robert Brantley Woolsey due November 2017.
Memorial service will be at 10am Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at Union Baptist Church 144 Crain City Rd. El Dorado.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Arkansas Children's Foundation, 1 Children's Way, Slot 661 Little Rock, AR. 72202-3591 or on-line at https://giving.archildrens.org or a charity of the donor's choice.