Darlene Cates was born on December 13, 1947 in Borger, Texas to Truman Madison “Tex” Guthrie (1921 – 2012) and Dorothy Ann (Pfrimmer) Balding (1927 – 2001). At 12 years old, her parents separated ways. She and her brother Sam Madison Guthrie, lived with their mother and spent much time with their beloved Grandparents, Samuel and Ruby Pfrimmer.
It was while growing up in Dumas, Texas that at 15, and with her mother’s consent, she married a handsome, young U.S. Marine and love of her life, Robert Isaac Cates. They were married at The Calvary Baptist Church, in Dumas, TX, during a blizzard, on January 11, 1963. The young couple began their life together, transferring to different military assignments in California, Texas, and North Carolina. Darlene spent many sleepless, worried days and nights while her beloved Robert served tours in Viet Nam (while she lived in Oklahoma) and Japan, all the while, finding enough time to give birth to her three beloved children; Sheri (1966), Mark (1967) and Chris (1971). After Robert retired from the United States Marine Corps, the family settled in Forney, Texas in 1979, to finish raising their young family.
Darlene battled many health issues during her life. However, as our heavenly Father often does, her hardships were used to provide an opportunity to reach the lives of others when Hollywood came calling. While appearing on a TV talk show in 1992, a screenwriter saw her and helped get her cast as “Momma” in the 1993 movie What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. This led to additional acting roles in; Picket Fences (1994) and Touched by an Angel (1996), among others. Many people have reached out to Darlene over the years, telling personal stories of how she had inspired them. She used this platform to spread the Word and lead by Jesus Christ’s example.
On March 26, 2017, Darlene went to be our Lord. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Robert, and a family, of which she was very proud: three children (Sheri Ann (Cates) Morgan and her husband David; Mark Robert Cates and his wife Tanya; and Christopher Alton Cates and his wife Starlet); six grandchildren (Daniel Isaac Morgan, Jesse David Morgan, Hunter King, Hannah King, Kody Walker and Garret Walker). She is also survived by her eldest brother Sam Madison Guthrie, her sister Tracy Guthrie Seals, her brothers James Lee Smith (wife Cynthia, children Kyle and Chris) and John Alton Smith (husband Dru).
“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16
“We are all one in the Spirit, regardless of our form.” - Darlene Cates
Memorial/Life Celebration Service for Darlene Guthrie Cates will be Saturday, April 8th at 1:00 PM at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 3003 Horizon Rd, Rockwall, TX 75032.
The family requests that those familiar to them and Darlene attend, if they choose, and that fans and media please respect our privacy and refrain from attending. Thank you for understanding.
If you would like to make a charitable donation in Darlene’s memory, in lieu of flowers, here are some charities that were dear to her:
Hearts and Hope for Uganda
The Navy Relief Fund SPCA
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