AVA GATES

Ava Joyce Williams Gates left her earthly home for her heavenly home on Monday, July 4, 2022. She was 94 years of age. Mrs. Gates was born in Dalhart, Texas, to Sam and Helyn Letchworth Johnson. Mrs. Gates is preceded in death by two husbands, Leon “Spud” Williams, the father of her children, and Earl Gates, and one daughter, Hedy Karen Sharp. Mrs. Gates life’s work was education, and she enjoyed many years as an elementary teacher in the Texarkana, Arkansas ISD and Liberty Eylau ISD. A member of Hampton Road Church of Christ, another of Mrs. Gates’ great joys, until her early nineties, was assisting with Hampton’s benevolent program, The Dorcas House. She and her late husband were members of the Sojourners, a traveling Church of Christ group assisting small congregations with their physical and spiritual needs. Mrs. Gates was also an active participant in Al-Anon for much of her life, this, like all her favored activities, one of service to others. Always an avid hobbyist in many fields, Mrs. Gates was an accomplished pastel artist. Until her late eighties, she competed regularly in local art shows where her work nearly always earned a first place. In May, 2021, Mrs. Gates moved to Nashville, Arkansas, where she received loving care from her daughter, Melissa Wilkes, and her granddaughter, Candy Ward. Mrs. Gates is survived by three daughters, Cheryl and Edward Bowman of Texarkana, Texas, Mary Ann and Joe Mack Hamilton of DeKalb, Texas, and Melissa Wilkes of Nashville, Arkansas, seven grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Visitation is scheduled for 10:00 until 11:00 am., July 7, 2022, at Nashville Funeral Home, in Nashville, Arkansas. Services will be at 11:00 am on July 7, 2022, at County Line Baptist Church, Nashville, Arkansas, with Minister Jerry Hill officiating. The interment will be at 3:00 pm, on July 7, 2022, at Nevill’s Chapel Cemetery in Mount Pleasant, Texas.