Barry & Jenny Cate on Gardening & Beehives

By Edwin Cooper Just before Barry & Garry Cate were born their mother Pat Cate learned she was carrying twins and she charged into her husbands office crying, “We’re going to have twins.” The boys arrived on May 13, 1963 in Harlingen, Texas. Brother Scott was born in 1966. Their earlier schooling was in Corpus Christi and the twins were scheduled in separate classes to reduce confusion for the teachers. Later while attending Texas Tech, Barry met Jenny who was enrolled in Baptist School of Nursing in Lubbock. Later after marriage both were employed by St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan and moved to Mumford. Later they moved to Franklin to be near Barry’s mother Pat, attend Franklin United Methodist Church and enroll their children in the Franklin Schools. They live on Old Boone Prairie Road with their two children Laura and Benjamin. Barry said, “On my 35th birthday mother asked me what I wanted as a gift. I told her I wanted a colony of bees. The bee business has expanded into a modest enterprise under the title The Beeloved Honey Company. This is in conjunction with our garden project.” Barry reports that for 15 years they have done business with the M&M Farm Supply Company. “We have purchased our pecan and peach trees there along with vegetable plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and many others. We control lawn and garden pests with agricultural chemicals from M&M along with fertilizers and soil enhancing products. We’ve known Mary Stegall for many years and sincerely appreciate her advice along with that of all who manage and work there now and heretofore. They are friendly and helpful in so many ways.” Currently Barry Cate is an Intensive Care Nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan and Jenny is serving as a Labor and Delivery Nurse there. Life on their place on Old Boone Prairie Road, along with their children, is a pleasant retreat from their urgently important but challenging duties at work. Working in the outdoors relieves stress from everyday problems and the honey helps with seasonal allergies for the Cates, their friends and customers. Nature is grand indeed.