Mary Elinor Gates

Mary Elinor Gates, a 93-year-old Gilman City resident, died on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014 at a Gallatin nursing home.
Graveside services were held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014 at Pilot Grove #1 Cemetery near Gilman City, under the direction of the Roberson Funeral Home of Gilman City.
Mrs. Gates was born on Sept. 2, 1921 in Jamesport, the daughter of Harry E. and Jessie A. Thompson Noll. She graduated in 1939 from Jamesport High School and attended Trenton Junior College from 1939-41. She began working in Denver the summer of 1942 and taught in Pilot Grove Country School for two years and then the Osborn School. She went to the state of Oregon in June of 1944.
She was married at Corvalis, OR on June 10, 1944 to Lester E. Gates, who preceded her in death on July 24, 1996. Mrs. Gates taught at Jamesport until her husband was out of the Marines. She then taught at Gilman City from 1956 to 1963. She finished her teaching degree from Northwest Missouri State College in 1964. She taught at the Coffey School from 1964 until her retirement. Most of her teaching was in the elementary grades and she also helped her husband farm in the Jamesport and Gilman City area while teaching full time. They bought a farm near Gilman City in 1965 and moved there in 1972. They retired to Trenton in November 1997 and she lived there until 2013.
Mrs. Gates enjoyed her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading, gardening and bird watching. She did all types of sewing and needlework and enjoyed crocheting and embroidering. After retirement, she enjoyed taking fishing trips with her husband to Forsyth.
She was a long-time member of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association.
Survivors include sons, Lowell (Connie) Gates of Trenton and Don (Rea) Gates of Raymore; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Laurie) Gates of Lee’s Summit and Jill Gates of Denver, CO; great-grandchildren, Lucas Carter and Emma Kay Gates; sisters, Harriet (John) Leopard of Gallatin and Ida Beth Nowland of Jamesport; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Melvin Ray; and sister, Ruth.
Memorials may be made to Pilot Grove #1 Cemetery, Three Rivers Hospice or Comfort Care Hospice in care of Roberson Funeral Home, PO Box 46, Bethany, MO 64424.