Mary Kayrene "Zillinger" Cates, daughter of Marcia (Grauerholz) Nelson and Kerry Zillinger, was born in Phillips County, Kansas on May 14, 1986. She died December 19, 2014 at the Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg, Kansas at the age of 28.
She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
She graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 2004 and attended Dodge City Community College, graduating with an Associate degree in Animal Science in May, 2006. Mary continued her education at Kansas State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture on May 17, 2008. She later graduated from Baker University with a Master's degree in Business Administration on December 15, 2012.
Mary was united in marriage to Ty Cates on July 19, 2008. This union was blessed with a son, Monte Kayhill Cates.
Throughout her life Mary was active in the Lutheran Church, 4-H, sports, FFA, FCCLA and college judging teams. In 2004 she was the High Individual at the Tulsa State Fair in the intercollegiate livestock judging contest. Over the years she served as a Phillips County 4-H Fair Board member and a Speed City Council member. She and son, Kayhill, shared their love of horses by participating in the Fort Bissell Saddle Club together. They also traveled within the state of Kansas competing in KWHA horse shows.
Mary was currently a managing partner of Signature Nurses, Inc. while actively pursuing her agricultural career in the beef cattle industry.
Mary's unique personality gave her the rare combination of tender strength and strong will. The successes in her life paled in comparison to her adoring love for her son.
Preceding her in death were her paternal sister, Krystal Zillinger, her uncle, Rodney Zillinger, and her grandmother, Cecilia Grauerholz.
Survivors include her son, Monte Kayhill Cates, of Speed, Kansas; Ty Cates & wife, Hiliary, of Booker, Texas; mother, Marcia Nelson & husband, Terry, of Almena, Kansas; father, Kerry Zillinger & wife, Kelli, of Columbus, Kansas; sisters: Andrea Murray & husband, Matthew, of Omega, Oklahoma; Klare Givens & husband, David, of Almena, Kansas; and Kitt Zillinger, also of Almena; nephews, Braxton and Breckon Murray and niece, Rylee Givens; grandfather, Raymond Grauerholz of Phillipsburg, Kansas and grandparents, Andrew & Betty Zillinger of Stuttgart, Kansas; as well as a large, extended family

Funeral services will be held Sat., Dec. 27, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastors Lorna Paulus and Joel Hiesterman officiating. Burial will follow in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Phillips County.
The casket will remain closed. Friends may sign the book on Friday, Dec. 26, from 9:00 a.m. –9:00 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.
Memorial contributions may be given to Kayhill's Education Fund.