Theresa M. Cato, a resident of Muskogee for 50 years, passed away Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at her home of 46 years. Theresa was born Dec. 8, 1928 in Gibbs, AR, the fifth of nine children, to A.D. and Stella Mae Gray Plyler. The family later moved to Durant, OK where she graduated from high school. Theresa then moved to Oklahoma City where she met John M. Cato. They were married in Bethany, OK on May 15, 1949. Her husband's career with the Union Pacific Railroad briefly took them to Muskogee and Durant. They moved to Parsons, KS in 1951 and back to Muskogee in 1958 where they raised their six children. Theresa was active in her children's schools, having served in the PTA for several years. She was co-owner of Cato Appliance in the late 1960's working as secretary and also helping repair small appliances. In 1974 she attended Indian Capital Vo-Tech and earned a secretarial certificate. She briefly worked for a credit bureau before spending the next nine years as a service clerk for Montgomery Wards. Theresa loved her job there, was proud of her success and made many friends through the yeras. She then owned and operated TC's Square Dance Fashion's. With her husband, she enjoyed square dancing for many years, travelling the country and participating in region, state, and national dances. They were members of the Muskogee Swingers Square Dance Club and the Muskogee Rounders Dance Club. In earlier years, she also enjoyed bowling on several local leagues and was a member of the Soroptomist Club of Muskogee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Huey, Cecil, and Herman Plyler and her sister Helen Hodges. Theresa is survived by her husband of 59 years, John M. Cato, and six children: Cheryl Cato of Dallas, TX; Linda (David) Hill of Robinson, TX; Becki Cato of Salt Lake City, UT; John C. (Marlene Mannon) Cato of Jenks, OK; James (Teresa Hanzark) Cato of Bartlesville, OK and Cyndee (Bob Price) Cato of Tulsa, OK. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren: John David Renfro of Ft. Lee, VA; Melissa (Robert) Phan of Houston, TX; Dena (Dan) Gipson of Collinsville, IL; Tonya (Creighton) King of Salt Lake City, UT; Keith Cato of Oklahoma City, OK; Carla Cato of Oklahoma City, OK; Haley (Justin) Dean of The Woodlands, TX; April Cato Rollins of Oklahoma City, OK; Bethany Cato of Roland, OK and Gregory Cato, serving a Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Spokane, WA. Her great-grandchildren are: Andrea, Troy, and Shelby Gipson; Allison and Amelia King; Darci and Aloha Chavez; Aiden and Lillie Dean; and Xuelin Rollins. She is survived by step-grandsons Dan (Gwenda) VanCleave of Bartlesville, OK and Josh (Selina) VanCleave of Bartlesville, OK and step great-grandchildren Amelia VanCleave and Makenzi VanCleave. Surviving siblings are brothers Lloyd Plyler of Durant, OK; Arthur David (Sue) Plyler of Atoka, OK and her sisters Mildred (Gomer) Eddins of Durant and Janice Maxwell of Dallas, TX