Michael J Kates Sr.

Michael J. Kates Sr. was born May 30, 1946, in Charleston, West Virginia, to Jessie Kates Miller and Julius Miller, and went to be with them on February 3, 2026, from Saint Ann's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

In 1965, he married his childhood sweetheart, Carrie L. Lamar, at the age of 19 and started a family, having four boys. Carrie and Michael set out on their journey to raise their boys to be strong, independent, respectful, and well-educated young men. But their mission did not stop there. They also set out to help any kid that was in need, providing them with love, comfort, and respect. They were parents to the whole neighborhood, affectionately known as "Mom Kates & Pop Kates."

You could always catch Michael after work or on the weekends watching Ohio State football, sitting on the front porch, or playing music while eating his popcorn or tinkering on one of his classic cars ('77 Mercury Marquis).

Michael was preceded in death by his Mother, Jessie Kates Miller; Father, Julius Miller; Son, Donald Kates; Brothers, Albert Kates and Charles Sanders, Jr. and Wife, Carrie L. Kates.

Michael is survived by his Sons: Michael Kates Jr., Tracy Kates, and Julius Kates. He leaves a strong legacy of Family, Kids, Grandchildren, and Great-Grandchildren, of which he was very proud, and a host of Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, and Dear Friends.

The Foundations He Built

We often measure a life by the things we can see. And with Papa, that is easier to do than with most.

Living in Columbus with him was like living with a local celebrity. We couldn't go anywhere-a grocery store, a gas station, a restaurant-without someone waving him down, shaking his hand, or stopping to chat. He knew everyone, and everyone knew him. It wasn't just that he was friendly; it was that he was present. He made an impression on people. He impacted them.

As the manager of Lang Stone, his impact on this state was quite literal. If you drive around Ohio, you can see the physical evidence of his hard work. You can see the structures, the facades, and the foundations that he helped supply and build. He dealt in stone-the most enduring material there is. He helped build things that were meant to last, things that would stand tall against the weather and the passing of time.

But as I look around this room today, at his children and his grandchildren, I realize that the buildings and the stone yards aren't his greatest work. We are.

There is a beautiful parallel between his life's work and his life's love. Just as he helped shape the skyline of Columbus and the landscape of Ohio, he shaped the landscape of our family. He didn't just manage a business; he managed to build a foundation for us that is as strong as any granite or limestone.

He taught us that impact isn't just about being known by the whole town; it's about being there for the people inside your own home. The stone he worked with was heavy, solid, and permanent. And his love for us was exactly the same. It was a weight that grounded us, a solid place to stand when the world felt shaky, and something that-like the stone he sold-is going to outlast him.

When we drive through Columbus now, we will see him in the buildings and the architecture he helped create. We will see his impact on the physical world. But when we look at each other, at his family, we see the impact that matters even more. We see the strength he instilled in his children, and the love he poured into his grandchildren.

He built a legacy in stone, yes. But he built an even greater one in us. And just like those stone structures, what he built in our hearts is made to last forever.