Melva W. Gates

Melva W. Gates
Melva W. Gates
Melva W. Gates
Melva W. Gates

Melva W. Gates, 91, of Amarillo died Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

A private graveside service will be held for the Family prior to the Memorial service.

Memorial service will be at 10 am Monday June 29, 2020 in Boxwell Brothers  Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., with Dr. Howard K. Batson of First Baptist Church officiating. Entombment will be in Llano Cemetery.

Melva was born August 26, 1928 in Houston, the daughter of William Walter Williams and Iva Graves Williams. She met James A. Gates at church on the second Sunday in September 1944 at Melrose Baptist Church in Houston and then they married on July 3, 1947. They were married 62 years before James died. Melva attended the University of Houston in September of 1945 and in 1947 became a full-time employee at City National Bank before they were married therefore not finishing her degree. After having their first child, James surrendered to the Ministry in 1949. For over 30 years she supported her husband with his ministry. Melva returned to the University of Houston in 1978 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Services May 1983.

When James retired in 1992, they moved to LaVeta, Colorado in 1996 to their dream home in the mountains. They had their 50th wedding anniversary party at Mountainview Baptist church in 1997 with all their family with them. They returned to Amarillo in October of 2004 where Melva resided until her death.

Melva was preceded in death by both her parents and all three of her siblings, Walter, Judson and Marian. She is survived by her 4 children, Linda Gates Nicholson and husband William A. Nicholson of Natalia, James A. Gates and his wife Kathryn Beran Gates of Tomball, Lydia Gates Farrar and her husband Rocky L. Farrar of Morgan and John W. Gates and his wife Teresa Bailey Gates of Amarillo.

Melva had 14 grandchildren, Amber Nicholson Delaney, Rebekah Nicholson Jank, Joshua Nicholson, Tyler Gates, Sarah Gates Altieri, Forrest Gates, Anna Gates, Aimee Farrar Ogletree, Jaimee Farrar, Samantha Farrar Byrne, Dustin Farrar, Jonathan Gates, Bailey Gates and Caleb Gates; 27 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great Grandchild.

The family suggests memorials to be to Music Ministry, First Baptist Church, 1208 S. Tyler St., Amarillo, Texas 79106.

4 Replies to “Melva W. Gates”

  1. Thoughts and prayers with you all. Such a beautiful woman with a loving heart. Loved Aunt Melvin !

  2. Loved our Tres Valles neighbors near La Veta, Melva and James. There is a great celebration in Heaven. May the Lord bless you all with peace, comfort and strength.

  3. We have lived next door to Melva for 16 years. She was my friend as well as a good neighbor. Her faith in Jesus Christ was evident. When I would visit her, the Bible was always close by. I loved to look at her Bible because it was worn and the pages were bent, indicating her faithfulness in searching God’s word. What an example. We loved her.

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