James Eugene "Gene" Caton

Memorial services for James Eugene "Gene" Caton, 72 of Lone Grove will be Saturday, March 16, 2019, 2:00 P.M. at the Craddock Memorial Chapel with Rev. Leroy Holman officiating. Inurnment for family will follow at Lone Grove West Memorial Cemetery. A night of visitation for family and friends will be Friday evening from 6-7:30 PM at the funeral home. Gene was born July 5, 1946 in Ada, Oklahoma to James Lee Caton and Maude Gertrude (Roper) Caton. He passed from this life on March 1, 2019 in Oklahoma City.

Gene graduated in 1964 from Byng High School, also making the Allstate team baseball that year. He attended East Central University in Ada and graduated in 1968. That year he started teaching and coaching baseball in Lone Grove, Oklahoma and coached there until 1990. He later retired from teaching in 2008, after a long and successful career. While at Lone Grove, he helped re-start the baseball program. Coach Caton's Longhorns made 7 State Tournament appearances, during this time with 2 State Championships, 3 State Runners Up, 2 State Semi Final appearances with a total of 333 achieved wins. Gene was not one that seeked glory, nor speak praise. He never bragged of his accomplishments because he believed that your actions earned it.

He loved baseball, enjoyed camping, traveling and was an "avid" St. Louis Cardinal's Fan. Gene cherished spending time with family and his grandchildren. He was a member of Maranatha Freewill Baptist Church of Ardmore, Oklahoma.

He was preceded in death by his parents James and Maude Caton; brother Bob Caton. Gene is survived by his son Chris Caton and wife Laura of Lone Grove, OK; sister Sylvia Roundtree and husband, Richard of Brenham, TX; brothers Doyle Caton of Albuquerque, NM, Dock Caton and wife Norma of Aurora, Illinois, Jerry Caton of Allen, TX; 2 grandsons Mateo Caton, Conner Caton; granddaughter Riley Caton, all of Lone Grove, OK; 5 nieces; 7 nephews; 12 great nieces; 13 great nephews; 1 great great niece; 2 great great nephews and many cherished friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lone Grove Baseball Team, c/o ANB P.O. Box 5009 Ardmore, OK 73403.