Bill Cato

Billy Gene Cato, 78, of Bell City, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born July 31, 1938, in Greenbrier, Missouri, to Harrison Edward and Dorothy Swick Cato. Bill and Joyce Teets were married July 12, 1993.

Bill was a lab technician at Owens-Illinois Glass Company and a farmer. He was a driver for Bud Shell Ford in Dexter, Missouri.

Bill attended Stepp School in Bollinger County, Missouri. He graduated from Zalma (Missouri) High School in 1957, where he played on the winning basketball team. After high school, Bill worked for Sherrill Ready Mix building the Mississippi River floodwall in Cape Girardeau.

Bill loved to people watch. He was a jokester and loved to make people laugh.

Loving survivors include his wife, Joyce Cato of Bell City; six children, Tarrell (Jerry) Portman of Winona, Minnesota, Kathryn (Larry) Jackson of Gypsy, Missouri, Stephanie (Ed) Politte of Irondale, Missouri, James E. Cato of Bowling Green, Missouri, Bryan (Angie) Cato of Fredericktown, Missouri, and Bobbie (Jim) Rampley of Bell City; brother, Hubert (Nellie) Cato of Troy, Missouri; sister, Kathryn (Mick) Brown of Patton, Missouri; 18 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, James Albert, Leroy, Paul, Harold and Ronald Cato; two sisters, Pearl Cato Jackson and Lora Wiseman; and four other siblings who passed away during childbirth.

According to Bill's wishes, there will be no services. His family will have a private graveside service at a later date. Burial of ashes will take place at Gravel Hill Cemetery in Bell City.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.