CUTLER – On the evening of Oct. 14, 2011, Jasper C. Cates Jr. “Cappie” went from being surrounded by his loving family into the arms of his Lord and Savior. A man who treasured his family, he lived his final hours in the presence of his wife, their children and spouses, and several grandchildren. Junior was born March 7, 1924, in East Machias, the fourth child of Etta (Moan) and Jasper C. Cates Sr.
After graduating salutatorian of his class at Washington Academy in 1942, he worked at Bath Iron Works before entering the Army Air Corps, Jan. 22, 1943. He was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant, Feb. 23, 1946, having been awarded a Good Conduct medal and an American Theater Campaign ribbon. Upon returning home from the war, he and Isabel Farris were married Feb. 26, 1949, and together they raised a family of five children while he provided for his family by lobstering, handlining, tub trawling, clamming and cutting wood. Later in his life, he was the first in Cutler to have a fiberglass boat, and also pioneered the practice of trap-trawl fishing. With pride, he passed the legacy of fishing on to his sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After he retired from fishing, it was one of his greatest joys to see his boys coming up harbor after a day on the ocean. Junior felt blessed to have spent almost all of his life in the town of Cutler, and served his community in various capacities. In earlier years he was a town selectman, a trustee of Cutler United Methodist Church, a church youth group leader, and the founder of the Cutler Association, dedicated to town improvement and eventually the construction of our town office/library building. Among those improvements were a town park and the flag circle at the center of town. Always guided by the conviction that Cutler should be preserved for future generations, he led efforts to preserve the Western Head property from development, joined the board of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and was a strong voice in the opposition to a proposed oil refinery. He dedicated himself to the cause of saving Little River Light Station, and was instrumental in securing a $110,000 grant to build the Cutler town ball field.
Junior is survived by Isabel, his wife of 62 years; and five children, Wayne, Stephen, Cynthia, Brian and Kimberley. Wayne’s family includes his wife, Marcia, and their children, Wayne Jr. and wife, Dana, and daughter, Kaissen, Amanda Holcroft and husband, Richard, and daughter, Kelsey. Stephen’s family includes his wife, Pauline, their son, Steve, and daughter, Joanna Liberatore and her husband, Tony, and daughters, Alexa and Alana. Cynthia’s family includes her husband, Terry Rowden, their two daughters, Belinda Lemieux and husband, Nick, and their sons, Ryan and Jackson, and Rebecca Sinford and husband, Lee, and children, Chelsea, Sarah and Jacob. Brian’s family includes his wife, Wanda, and their sons, Jeremy and his wife, Charlene, and two children, Ethan and Isabel, and Joshua and wife, Laurie, and children, Lucas, Max and Avery. Kimberley’s family includes her husband, Kevin Gardner, and children, Trevor, Channing and Patrick. Junior is also survived by his brother, Gerald and his wife, Ida; his sister, Mara Rebhan; brother-in-law, John Farris and wife, Ruth; and sisters-in-law, Priscilla Look, Jackie Farris and Bernice Farris. Junior was also blessed by special long-term caregivers, Brenda Auffrey, Kelley Cates, Pam Jordan and Dylan Case; many volunteer drivers and the wonderful staff at Sunrise Dialysis Center, Eastport. Predeceasing Junior were his parents; and brothers, Robert and Willard.
Visiting hours will be held 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Jasper and Isabel’s home, 2666 Cutler Road, Cutler. A celebration of life will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at Cutler United Methodist Church. The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Junior’s memory to any one of following: Cutler United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 233, Cutler, ME 04626; Cutler Scholars’ Fund, P.O. Box 56, Cutler, ME 04626; Cutler Association, Inc., P.O. Box 286, Cutler, ME 04626; or Friends of Little River Light, P.O. Box 671, East Machias, ME 04630. Arrangements are in care of McClure Family Funeral Services, Machias and Lubec.