Alice Beulah Cato, 71, of Stroudsburg, PA departed this world on November 6, 2019 at the Hospice House in East Stroudsburg, PA. She was the wife of Joseph L. Cato and mother of 6 children, Althea (Toni), Jerome Jr., Joseph Jr., Julius, Angie, and George.

Alice was born on February 5, 1948 in Newport News, Virginia to the late Preston Leroy and Naomi McCoy. She was raised by Beulah Perkins and Deacon George E. Gatlin. Alice graduated at the age of 17 from Girls High in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She married Jerome Patterson and gave birth to four children. In 1976, she moved to the Pocono Mountains to build a better life for her children. Alice married the love of her life, Joseph Cato on June 28, 1981. She spent a major part of her life tending to others as a home health aide attendant and caretaker of young children.

Alice was influential in the lives of many people. She always had a smile and a nonjudgmental mannerism that allowed people to freely express themselves around her. She encouraged people to love God and be the best person they could be. She adopted many over the years as sons, daughters, grandbabies, nieces, nephews, brothers, and sisters; and was known to many as Mother Cato, Grand-mom Cato, or Aunt Alice. One of her favorite words to use when she spoke to you, was the endearment, “baby”.

Alice loved God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit. From a youth she attended church services with her dad, Deacon George Gatlin. Two of her favorite hymns she sang were, His Eye is on the Sparrow, and The Only Hope. Psalm 23 and I Corinthians 13 were all-time favorite passages of hers, which she made sure to teach others by the life she lived. Three main attributes Alice lived by and shared were; “There are many denominations, but God is the common denominator” (God gave her this specifically); “When a task is first begun, never leave it till it’s done. Be the labor, great or small, do it well or not at all”; as well as “you can always out live a lie,” (her dad taught her the last two). Her dedication to live her life through these values, allowed her to teach and commit these traits to everyone she met. The legacy of love and laughter is the inheritance she leaves for all to follow.

Continuing the legacy of love and laughter is her dedicated husband, Joseph L. Cato, six children: Althea Trice (Thomas), Jerome Patterson (Kenyadda, deceased), and Julius Patterson (Danielle) of Pennsylvania; George Patterson (LaShon), Joseph Cato Jr. (Melissa), and Angela Cato (Lee) of Virginia; three siblings: Alfreda Bryant of Florida, Dan McCoy of Virginia, and Naomi Myers of Colorado; 29 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and adopted family members.

Funeral Services will take place on Saturday at 10AM in Jesus The Christ Church 2060 Tanite Rd. Stroudsburg, PA 18360. Viewing begins at 9AM. Interment will follow in Stroudsburg Cemetery.