Fredrick James John Cates passed away September 25th, 2016.

He was born in Oakland, California, May 18th, 1945. His parents moved to Sheridan, Wyoming where he was then raised and graduated from Sheridan High School.

As a young man, he enjoy fishing and hunting near and around the Big Horn Mountains.

Fred then continued on to Nebraska where he went to college for electrical engineering.

After college, he married Joy Natolitano and eventually moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he started his career of 38 years with Freightliner Truck on Swan Island in Portland, Oregon as an electrician. Shortly following, Fred and his family moved to Ridgefield, Washington where he loved to work hard, play hard, and pursue all of his many personal passions.

Fred retired from Freightliner in 2002 and spent most of his remaining years at the beach, fishing throughout the Pacific Northwest, building projects in his wood shop, and his most favorite thing to do was playing cards at the Moose Lodge with all of his friends. He loved to be around people and his crazy sense of humor sometimes was shocking and more often than not would catch you off guard and really make you laugh.

He was a very talented, crafty, caring, fun loving person and will be dearly missed by many.

Fred is survived by his 3 sons, Scott (Nancy), Garold, and James; his grandchildren, Mikaela, Conner, Tristan, and Sam.

He preceded in death by his wife, Terry, in 2013.

Services will be held at Northwood Park Funeral Home this Sat., Oct. 1st at 11a.m. A celebration will follow at the Moose Lodge, 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m., #2423, 6719 NE 219th St., (in Dollars Corner) Battle Ground, WA 98604.

Please sign his Guest Book at www.columbian.com/obits.

The Sheridan Press - Oct. 1, 2016.