Frank Jerome Cates, 3, of Jacksonville, Illinois, aka "Frank the Tank," passed away at St. Louis Children's Hospital on June 10, 2023. He had his Dad, Mom, and Mary, aka Mom #2, by his side. He was born on January 17, 2020, at St. Louis Children's Hospital, the son of Paul T. And Gina M. Cates of Jacksonville, Illinois.

Frank is survived by his Dad and Mom, Paul and Gina; siblings Mary, Jon, Matthew, Jaclyn, and Paul; grandma, Anna Koehler of Auburn, IL; aunts, Jessie Hammond and Sharon Perkins both of Auburn, IL, Jill Hopkins of Sparta, MO, Melinda Young of Jacksonville, IL, Manda Morse of Grand Tower, IL; and numerous cousins.

He was proceeded in death by maternal grandpas, Charles "Gene" Cook and Jesse Hammond; paternal grandparents, Jac and Nancy Cates; and uncles, Denny Cates and Drew Cates.

Frank got the nickname "Frank the Tank" from his NICU nurse, Lizzy, and he proudly defined his nickname. Frank's many talents included making anyone's day brighter, as his smile and laugh were so contagious, he made sure you joined in, and making friends came naturally. He also made his presence known by his greetings. He also made sure it was known that Courage, Bravery, and being a tough little fighter came in small packages. He also reminds us in life no matter what, Keep Smiling!!

Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 16, 2023, at Mt. Zion Cemetery, Winona, Missouri. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Yarber Mortuary, Winona. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.