Lonnie Wayne “Runt” Cates, age 66, a resident of Columbia, passed away Friday evening, July 24, 2020 at St. Thomas West Hospital.

A funeral service was conducted on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia with Rick Points officiating. Burial followed in Pisgah Ridge Cemetery.

Born on March 6, 1954 in Hohenwald, Lonnie was the son of the late Charlie Cates and the late Odessa McNabb Cates. He married Teresa Mooningham in 1973 and was the owner of Cate’s Drywall for fifty years. He was a hard worker who enjoyed fishing, hunting and racing. He was an avid Atlanta Braves fan.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Ricky Wayne Cates of Columbia, Lonnie Dale Cates of Lewisburg, and Robert Wayne (Angie) Cates of Tullahoma; brothers, George Cates, Elbert (Penny) Cates, and Alex (Angela) Cates, all of Columbia, Edward (Judy) Cates of Lewisburg, Jimmy Cates of Alabama, and Glenn (Tammy) Cates of Hampshire; sister, Amy Dunnivant of Summertown; fourteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; lifelong friend, Rickey Taylor Sr. of Santa Fe; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Heritage Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.