Soldotna resident Anita Cates, 74, passed away Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 at home from pneumonia. Memorial services will be 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Kenai. Pastor Jonathan Mercill will officiate. Anita was born Oct. 9, 1947 in Artesia, Calif. She grew up in California, and once she was old enough, she moved to Oregon, where she met her husband, Rick and raised 3 children. She received her Bachelor Arts in Sociology in 1991. Once her children were grown, she was able to fulfill her lifelong dream of moving to Alaska. Although when she arrived, she was not able to hike the mountains she once dreamed about. She was able to enjoy and appreciate the scenery. She worked for the Kenai Senior Center and Spokes Unlimited, retiring in 2010. Anita was a strong and caring wife, mother, and grandmother. She cared deeply for her family and community, always lending a helping hand. Anita enjoyed going to church, spending time at the Senior Center and quilting. All of the quilts that didn’t go to her grandchildren, she donated to foster kids in need. Nothing brought her more joy than being surrounded by the people she loved. She will be dearly missed by all of her family and friends. Anita is survived by her husband, Fredrick “Rick” Cates of Soldotna; daughters and sons-in-law, Gloria and Bill Miller of Klamath Falls, Ore., and Crystal and Rodney Hobby of Soldotna, Alaska; son, Joseph Cates of Klamath Falls, Ore.; grandchildren, Savannah Menke of Klamath Falls, Ore., LeAnna Hobby and Winter Leavitt, both of San Antonio, Texas, Corvus Leavitt and Lathan Petersen, both of Soldotna, Alaska, and Bailey Kinkaid of Klamath Falls, Ore.; great-granddaughters, Jocelyn, Emma and Olivia Rose Beeson, all of Klamath Falls, Ore. Memorial donations may be sent to Fredrick Cates, P.O. Box 1527, Kenai, AK 99611. Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.