Sam Gates of Sulphur Rock, Arkansas, departed this life on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, at the age of 84.
He was born May 19, 1936, at the Elgin Community in Tuckerman, the son of Charlie Ray and Lucille (Stoner) Gates.
Gates retired from Norandal after 36 years of service as a mill operator.
He was a hard worker and loved being busy and working.
He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and horseback riding. Mr. Gates raised and trained bird dogs, and especially loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.
He was a member of Antioch Church of Christ, where he served as song leader for 13 years.
Gates was preceded in death by his first wife, Norma Ellen (Williams) Gates; his second wife, Judy Gates; one son, Scotty Gates; two sisters, Louise Emery and Kathryn Green; and his parents.
He is survived by two sons, Charles Albert Gates and wife, Sally of Charlotte, and Larry Wayne Gates and wife, Michelle, of Tuckerman; one daughter-in-law, Teresa Kelly Gates of Flagstaff, Arizona; three brothers, J.C. Gates and wife, Glenda, of Tuckerman, Jerry Gates and wife, Velda, of Newport, and Ronnie Gates of Tuckerman; two sisters, Sue Huskey and husband, Carroll, of Tuckerman, and Carolyn Bailey of Tuckerman; five grandchildren, Tonya Holliway, Sammie Joe Gates Hogan and husband, Brent, Hunter Gates and wife, Emily, Chase Gates and wife, Taylor, and Jeremiah Hisel and wife, Becca; nine great-grandchildren, Alto, Owen, Asher, Delilah, Caiden, Xander, Kloey, Sawyer, and Haskin; His Antioch Church of Christ church family; many nieces, nephews, and a lifetime of friends.
Friends may visit at the funeral home, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, beginning at 1:30.
Funeral services will follow at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Chapel.
