Wayland Cato Obituary

Wayland Henry Cato III CHARLOTTE, NC - Wayland Henry Cato III, age 75, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2023 in the company of his loving and devoted wife and family. Born February 22, 1948 in Charlotte, NC, Wayland was the son of Wayland Henry Cato, Jr. and the late Margaret Boutt Cato. After attending Charlotte Country Day School and Camden Military Academy, he graduated from Myers Park High School in 1968 and continued his education at Central Piedmont Community College. Growing up in a large family surrounded by nature on a Charlotte farm, Wayland developed the creativity that led to his art career. Dabbling in multiple art mediums in his childhood and adolescent years, he took art lessons in the basement of the Mint Museum. At the age of 14, he sold his first piece of artwork and within six years he was approached by the Smithsonian Institute to become a commissioned artist. Throughout the years, Wayland became known for his timeless and unique works, primarily as an award winning and self-taught glass and crystal artist. He dedicated his life to chasing his passions - from training extensively in his craft and running a glass art studio and gallery in San Diego, to traveling the globe and running a horseback riding club on the beaches of coastal North Carolina. Wayland found his forever love when he met his wife, Rhonda. After tying the knot on October 2, 1999, they created a home filled with the warmth of their loyal labs (Wyatt who has passed on), Lily and Doc, butterflies, Koi fish and chickens. Their shared enthusiasm for nature, photography and worldly adventures illuminated their path together, etching a tale of wonder and togetherness. Wayland's art can be found in public and private collections from North and South America to Europe, Egypt, and China. He once said, "My fine art and engraving has consumed my life, taken me around the world, and enabled me to meet many incredible people. Art is the passion that I go to bed dreaming about and I wake up thinking of. I can't wait to see what that day has to bring, who I might meet or talk to and what opportunities await. I do know that I will be doing my art until the very end!" Wayland was predeceased by his dearly missed mother, Margaret Boutt Cato, infant sister, Margaret Louise Cato, brother-in-law, James Dent Goodyear, and brother, Henry Pickens Cato II. He is survived by his beloved wife, Rhonda Gibson Cato and his two sons, Wayland Henry Cato IV (Jennifer Bogart) and Wayland Henry Cato V; and his adored father, Wayland Henry Cato, Jr. (Marion Rivers Cato); He is also survived by his siblings: Clarice Cato Goodyear, John Pickens Derham Cato (Jane Greeson Cato), Catherine Evelyn Cato (Gene Ehmann), Thomas Edgar Cato (Marti Washam Cato), Joseph Courtney Cato (Larisa Ivannikova Cato); and two sisters-in-law, Lisa J. Cato, Donna Gibson Stricker (Craig Allen Stricker) and brother-in-law, Marvin W Gibson (Tammy S. Gibson); nephews and nieces , David Thomas Cato (Meade Carey Cato), Joseph Alexander Cato (Andrew Alexander), Nicholas Alexander Cato (Cecilia Sullivan), Eliza Liggett Cato (Gabe Stuart), Henry Alexander Cato, Justin Allen Stricker, Grayson Lynn Stricker, Brooke G. Black (Brandon Black), Brandon Black Jr., Michael D. Gibson Katlyn A. Gibson), M. Wesley Gibson, Marvin D. Gibson, Carly M. Gibson, and Bentley E. Gibson. The family wishes to thank Dr. Kelly Redden at Atrium Health-Perspective Health & Wellness. The family will receive friends from 5:00pm - 7:00pm on Monday, November 6 at McEwen Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC A funeral service will be held at 3:00pm Tuesday, November 7 at Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Rd., Charlotte, NC. In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to CPCC Foundation www.cpccfoundation.org/donation or Catawba River Keeper - www.CatawbaRiverKeeper.org. Condolences may be offered at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com.