Carol Joy *Chick* Cates

Carol Joy “Chick” (Haskell) Cates was born on July 14, 1928 to Claud and Minnie Haskell at home in Beaver County. She departed this life on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 in Beaver, OK. She was the youngest of 6 children: Edna Young, Opal Drum, Virgil, Veck, and Clinton Haskell. Carol obtained her unique nickname at birth. Clinton had just turned a year old when Carol was born. In order for him to understand he now had a baby sister, the family made the comparison of the new baby chickens that were on the farm to his new baby sister, therefore giving her the name of Baby Chickie! Before starting school, it was thankfully shortened to Chick. For most of her life this was the only name people knew her by.

   Chick attended school at Home Creek and then in Beaver. During high school she served as drum majorette of the band because a baton was the only thing the family could afford. High school also served as the meeting ground for her future husband. Chick and high school sweetheart, Dale, graduated from Beaver in 1946.

   After graduating, she worked at the County Clerk’s office until marrying Dale Cates on August 26, 1948 in the Methodist Church in Beaver. You knew this lady was going to be tough because she survived an August wedding wearing a wool skirt and jacket at her ceremony. The young married couple soon made their forever home on Clear Creek. They purchased an already established Sears and Roebuck kit home. Dale lived out his life in this home, as did Chick until 2014.

   This marriage was blessed with four children: Dayla Sue 1951, Joe Bob 1956, Reta Beth 1962, and Read Haskell 1964.

   It was on July 1, 1958 that Chick was baptized and joined the First Baptist Church of Beaver. Although she was kept busy on the farm and raising kids she found time to devote to her church by serving as a Sunday School teacher, GA sponsor, and other various church responsibilities.

   Most of Chick’s life was spent being the wife of a farmer and rancher, which meant endless cooking, gardening, canning, sewing, and packing meals to take to the harvest field. In the late ‘70s, the family was honored by being named Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year.

   Chick had the opportunity to work outside the home at various times in her life. She enjoyed the time she got to spend working with her sister, Edna, and sister-in-law, Lyla Haskell, owner of the Fronk-n-Bonnet. She thoroughly enjoyed working with the public.

   For many years she was a member of the Elmwood Extension Homemakers Club, where she expanded on her domestic skills. All of which her family benefited from, especially the cooking! Chick never knew how many she would be feeding, because Dale ALWAYS invited someone to pull up a chair to the dinner table.

   It was back in the early years of marriage that Dale and Chick found one of the best gifts anyone could ask for-friendship. This bond was strong from day one with Clarence and Reta Engelman. They experienced celebrations and heartbreaks, too numerous to mention. Pitch parties, family vacations, family sorrows, and weddings were always done with the support and prayers of each other.

   Once her kids were raised and began families of their own, Chick was handed another name. This one was called “Grandma” or “Momo Kick” to some. She loved getting to attend anything her grandkids were involved in.

   The name that Chick will forever be most honored to be called is Child of Our Living God. She had an unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. She believed in her actions speaking louder than her words.

   Chick was preceded in death by her parents, four siblings, her son Joe Bob, husband, a great grandson, and a great-great grandson. She is survived by her brother Clinton Haskell and wife Pearl of Beaver, daughter Dayla Sue and husband Craig Pugh of Balko, daughter Reta Beth and husband Bobby Mosburg of Beaver, son Read Haskell Cates and wife Kelli of Elmwood; grandchildren Rob Pugh and wife Connie of Rockwall, TX, Guy Pugh and wife Jaime of Elmwood, OK, Will Cates and wife Norma of Roseville, CA, Amy and husband Wes Ffolkes of Frisco, TX, Calleb Mosburg and wife Callie of Alva, OK, Adam Mosburg and fiancé Kacee of Beaver, OK, Rachael and husband Chad Richardson of Alva, OK, Hannah Mosburg of Beaver, OK, Madison and husband Joe Barrett of Portalas, NM, Hadley Cates of Beaver, OK, and 16 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

   In the most recent years, Chick occupied most of her time cheering on the OKC Thunder. She never got to attend a game in the arena, but made it a point NOT to miss watching a single game on TV, earning her last title “Thunder Chick”!