Eleanor Cates Obituary

Long-time San Marcos resident, Eleanor Tuttle Cates, passed peacefully surrounded by her family on July 20, 2022.

Eleanor was born December 1, 1933, in her grandmother's home in Belton, Texas, to Harvey Bradshaw and Grace Taggart Bradshaw. Her family moved to San Antonio while she was young and eventually to the Rio Grande Valley. She graduated from Weslaco High School at the age of 16. From there she moved to San Marcos to attend Southwest Texas Teachers' College. She graduated with her degree in mathematics at the age of 19. She later earned a Master's Degree in Science and Mathematics, also at Southwest Texas State.

Eleanor met her first husband, Shirley Tuttle, while attending college. They married in 1954 and made San Marcos their home where they reared two sons, Brad and Brent.

Together, Eleanor and Shirley worked side by side running Tuttle Cattle Company for several decades. She also taught school in New Braunfels and San Marcos public schools and San Marcos Baptist Academy until the early 1970s. She then began a long successful career as a real estate broker. She retired from real estate when she had reached her late 70s.

Eleanor kept the books for the Hays County Youth Shows for many years and she and Shirley and others on the board were instrumental in building the new Hays County Civic Center then donating it back to the county. She was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and a founding member of Chilympiad.

Eleanor and Shirley had 49 loving years of marriage until he passed away in 2002. Mutual friends introduced Eleanor to Allan Cates, and after a brief courtship, the couple were married in 2003. Together they had a passion for music, dancing, and traveling the world and were especially fond of cruising and making new friends.

Eleanor is preceded in death by her parents and her first husband. She is survived by her husband, Allan Cates, sons Brad Tuttle and wife Michele; and Brent Tuttle and wife, Liz, all of San Marcos. Other survivors include step-daughter Alys Macias and husband Chuck of Marco Island, Florida, and step-son Tim Cates and wife Kim of Kyle; grandchildren, Mandy Tuttle Wallace, Ashley Tuttle Pickett, Tanner Kothmann, Derek Kothmann, Lauren Tuttle, Charlie Will Tuttle, Ashley Kubiszyn, Sarah Cates, Cole Macias, Luke Macias, and 15 great grandchildren.

A private family celebration will be held to honor Eleanor. Memorials may be given to Hays County Young Life or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements in care of Pennington Funeral Home, 323 N Comanche, San Marcos, Texas.

512-353-4311~www.penningtonfuneralhome.com