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Shirley Jean Halstead Cate
Shirley Jean Halstead Cate
Mesa, AZ
Shirley Jean Halstead Cate passed away on October 27th, 2024, in Mesa, AZ at the age of 94 from complications from a fall. Shirley passed away peacefully and entered the gates of heaven to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was born at home in Buchanan County, April 3rd, 1930, to Glen and Laura Hocken.
She graduated in 1946 and married the first love of her life; Maurice Halstead and they were blessed with three children. They lived and farmed north of Quasqueton, Iowa. She studied nursing and worked in that field then worked and retired from Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids.
After Maurice passed, she visited AZ where she met the 2nd love of her life, Gene Cate. They then resided in Mesa, AZ living in the Sunland Springs Village Retirement Community. Shirley was a beautiful soul full of love, laughter and resilience and touched the lives of all who knew her. Throughout her life she enjoyed many hobbies, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and photography as well as water aerobics and line dancing. But most of all she loved her family and friends and was always there to provide her knowledge and love. She and Gene moved to Sky Vista Assisted Living Community in November of 2023.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and late husband Maurice Halstead. She is survived by her loving husband Gene Cate; her children; son Roger (Tracy) Halstead; daughter Sheryl (Jim) Lynch; daughter Diane (Rod) Porter; Stepdaughter Kathy (Kevin) Reed Coon; Stepson Ray Cate; 6 grandchildren; 3 step grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family would like to thank Sky Vista Assisted Living Mesa, AZ, for their love, care and compassion and also, THEMA hospice for caring for her in her final days.
Keeping with mom’s loving and giving spirit, her body was willed to the Body Donor Program at the University of Arizona. Private family burial will be at a later date in Quasqueton Cemetary next to her husband, Maurice Halstead.
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