Obituaries

EARL GATES

Photo of EARL  GATES
Earl Elwood Gates passed away November 22, 2020 at his home in Texarkana, TX at the young age of 90. He was born September 12, 1930 in Nittany, PA to Harry and Edna (Rogers) Gates. Earl moved to Norfolk, NE in 1960 to work for Western Typewriter as an office machine repairman. He met and married Virginia (Criss) in November 1961. In 1970 Earl took a job with Redden-Miller Office Machines and moved his family to Marshalltown, IA. After Virginia's death he moved back to PA for a time. Earl was an active member of Hampton Church of Christ and combined that with his love to go camping through a group called Sojourner's. It was while on a sojourn that he met his second wife, Joyce. They married in 2003. Earl recently celebrated his 90th birthday at one of his favorite restaurants with all of his children present. When asked by his daughter Beth if he thought he would live to be 90, he responded with a big smile and said, "I'm just getting started". Earl is survived by his wife, Joyce (Williams) Gates of Texarkana, TX; brothers, Dick and Dale, sisters Shirley and Doris ­— all of Pennsylvania. His children, Earletta Morris of Fort Worth, TX; Mike Gates of Reynoldsburg, OH; Kathy (Tom) Hogancamp of Sioux City, IA; Beth Synovec of Norfolk, NE and daughter-in-law Jodi Gates of Plainview, NE; stepdaughters, Cheryl (Edward) Bowman, Maryann (Joe Mack) Hamilton and Melissa Wilks. He has 14 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and one great-great- grandchild. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Edna; his first wife, Virginia; his brother Bill and sister-in-law, Sylvia; his son Steve; his granddaughter Kori; grandson Dillon, and son-in-law Tony. Earl's wishes were to be cremated and family will have a memorial service later in Nebraska. Memorials may be made to Hampton Church of Christ Dorcas House. Condolences may be made at www.eastfuneralhomes.com.

Published November 25, 2020

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