Thelma Cates of Claflin will celebrate her 90th birthday on June 11, with a family gathering and a card shower.
Thelma was born on June 18, 1926, to Andrew and Millie Gower in Shamrock, Okla. On Dec. 18, 1945, she married Vivan Cates in Winfield. They were married for 55 years. He passed away in 2001. They settled in Claflin in 1954 where she was a Sunday school teacher and the church pianist.
She and Vivan have six sons and one daughter, the late Don Cates (Ginger), Bob (Alvita) Cates and Myra (Mike) Prosser, all of Claflin, Bruce Cates of New Braunfels, Texas, Ray (Becky) Cates of Haslet, Texas, Steven (Susan) Cates of Emporia, and Barry (Kelly) Cates of Guyton, Ga.; 21 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Cards may be sent to P.O. Box 447, Claflin, KS 67525.