It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Gloria Maxine Cates (Root). Mom passed peacefully at her home in Sanger on April 19, 2025, at the age of 88.

Maxine grew up and attended school in Sanger and was a longtime member of the First Southern Baptist Church.

She met the love of her life, Leonard, in the early 1950s, and they were married for 68 years until his passing in 2022. In her earlier years, she worked various jobs around Sanger, including as a seamstress at Bailey's, in several elementary school cafeterias with Sanger Unified, and, like many others from the area, in the local packing houses.

Mom cherished family camping trips to Klamath Falls and the Trinity River for salmon fishing, to Dinkey Creek for hunting and fishing, and to Pismo Beach. Two years ago, she was able to enjoy her final camping trip to Pismo, where she loved walking the pier and sitting around the campfire making s'mores—her favorite—with her daughter Melinda, son-in-law James, and great-granddaughter and best friend Samantha. In her younger years, she enjoyed roller skating and was an avid bowler with her church group and friends.

Maxine is reunited in Heaven with her parents, Neva Root-Moody and Raymond Root; her brothers, Albert Roy Root and Raymond Dale Root; her sister, Jacqueline Guinan; and her loving husband, Leonard Cates.

She leaves behind daughter Deborah Wasik of Kingman, AZ, son Robert (Sandra) Cates of Orofino, ID, daughter Melinda (James) Bell of Kingman, AZ ,and son Jeremy (Renee) Cates of Idaho Falls, ID; five grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandsons; her sister, Geraldine Lamott of Fresno, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews who she will be watching over until they are reunited. Mom especially loved being a Nana and was always eager to show off pictures and stories about her children and grandchildren.

Services will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Sanger Cemetery.