Patricia “Patsy” Ann Cates Gaines, 78, of Statesville, N.C., passed away peacefully on Monday, January 6, 2025. She was born on April 1, 1946, in Iredell County to Roy Omar Cates and Mary Upright Cates. She was a graduate of Troutman High School and worked for many years at Romac Metals. She was a member of Trinity Methodist Church in Statesville.

Patsy was naturally beautiful and enjoyed the finer things in life. She was also well travelled; she recently fulfilled her dream to travel to Italy, and she lived a healthy, active lifestyle. She was a vegetarian and particularly favored Italian food, especially cheese pizza and eggplant parmesan.

She was a lifelong and very enthusiastic Elvis fan, so much so that she had his name tattooed on her arm. She also cared for animals, especially dogs and birds, and tending to her own pets. An issue she was especially concerned with was the illegal poaching of elephants for their ivory tusks.

Patsy spent a lot of time gardening, often creating arrangements from the flowers in her yard to decorate her home. Having once been an avid snow skier, she loved when it snowed. She enjoyed churning homemade ice cream and making chicken and dumplings for her family, and talking with her grandsons about guns and hot rods.

While Patsy had a lot of varied interests and enjoyed many things in life, nothing compared to the love she had for her grandchildren. They meant the world to her, and she would gladly do anything for them.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter Lisa Current Upright; and her sisters, Carolyn Cates McCreary and Mary Diane Cates Watt.

She is survived by her daughter, Tracy Baltzell (Jonathan) of Mooresville; grandchildren, Adam Upright (Brooke) of Statesville, Caleb Henrickson (Alissa) of Greenville, Luke Baltzell of Raleigh, and Brock Baltzell of Mooresville; great granddaughter, Kyndall Upright; sister, Peggy Cates Miller Reid of Cornelius; several nieces and nephews; and brother-in-law, Kenneth Watt.

Patsy made the selfless decision to donate her body to Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Her gift of whole body donation will help the medical community continue to learn and grow, and to ultimately save lives. Patsy’s choice is deeply respected and admired by her family and truly reflects her generous spirit and desire to help others. While it was Patsy’s wish not to have a formal service, her family and friends will remember her in their own special and personal way.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Story of Atrium Health. They would also like to thank the staff of VIA Health Partners Hospice, Meadow Lakes of Statesville, and Lakeside Health and Rehabilitation in Huntersville.

Donations may be made in Patsy’s memory to The ALS Association, online at https://www.als.org/ or mail to 1300 Wilson Blvd., Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22209.

Condolences and messages of comfort may be shared online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com or mailed to Attn: Baltzell Family, Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home, 705 Davie Avenue, Statesville, NC 28677.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to serve Ms. Gaines and her family.