Susan Carol Cate

Susan Carol Cate, 71, of Southlake, TX, passed away on Sunday, June 19th, 2022. She has joined her parents, J.D. Cate Jr. and Mabel McCombs Cate, along with her brother-in-law, Paul Daniel “Danny” Hilliard, in the presence of her Heavenly Father. Susan was born on October 2nd, 1950. She graduated from Carroll High School in 1968. She went on to gain her Baccalaureate in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation and her Master of Science and Physical Education from the University of North Texas.


Susan lived a life that was uniquely her own and had an unforgettable ornery smile. She was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and teacher. “Coach Cate” taught for 43 years, 40 of which were at Palestine ISD, where she influenced countless lives. She was one of a kind; her students knew that if you got away with something in her classroom, it was because she let you. Those who knew her also knew her heart of gold. Her humble and unassuming nature meant that she may have preferred to help others quietly behind the scenes without fanfare or a need for recognition. But she was not quiet when it came to supporting those important to her, particularly her nieces. There was no fiercer supporter than Aunt Susan. She was someone you wanted in your corner, your “heavy.”


Susan was survived by her sister, Linda Cate Carter and husband Skip Carter of Sequim, WA; niece Amy Hilliard Scott and husband Shawn Scott of Livermore, CO; niece Jennifer Hilliard and husband Jeffrey Holberg of Cedar Hill, TX; niece Lauren Carter Post and husband Dustin Post of Dallas, TX; niece Kristen Carter Kooiman and husband Andrew Kooiman of Austin, TX; great-nephews and great-nieces Dylan and Soren Holberg, and Luke, Joshua, and Hadassah Scott, and decades of students who fondly remember her old school values and continue the legacy she started. She will always be in our hearts.


In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to be made in Susan Cate’s honor to the Anderson County Retired Teachers Association Scholarship Fund or to GRACE of Grapevine, Texas.