Rayford Gates

Rayford (Ray) Gates, 88, of Arkansas City passed away on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at the Kansas Veteran’s Home in Winfield, KS.  Cremation has been effected and there will be a Celebration of Life at the Shelley Funeral Home in Arkansas City on Saturday, June 12 at 2 P.M. Memorial contributions for Ray may be made to the Kansas Veteran’s Home, donations may be left in care of the funeral home.

Ray was born in Kennard Texas November 24, 1932 to John & Caroline Gates.  He graduated from Huntsville High School in 1951.  He served in the army 1953-1955 being stationed in Okinawa.  He moved to Ark City and went to work for Boeing in 1956.  He retired with Honors as General Supervisor in 1992.

Ray enjoyed the outdoors, camping, boating, ATVs, cooking outside, building or just always working on something.  He was a Boy Scout leader and was active in the Cherokee Plains CB Club.  He has traveled to Canada, Japan, Mexico and every state except Alaska.

He married Carol Reece on Oct, 11, 1957.  He has four children, Lynn Gates, wife Brenda Gates of Magnolia, AR; Sherry Purdue, husband Mike Purdue of Wichita, KS; Darryl Gates, wife Angie Gates of Aberdeen, MS; Alan Gates, wife Stephanie Gates of Independence, MO.  He has five grandchildren, Erin Gates of Shreveport, LA; Tanya Gates of Wichita, KS; Amanda Gates of Conway AR; Chris Gates, wife April of Conway AR; Jordan Gates of Kansas City, MO; Sierra Yutzy of Independence, MO.  Three great-grandchildren, Aliyah Jackson of Winfield, KS; Ari Gates of Wichita, KS; and Halie Gates of Conway, AR.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, sister, a baby son Donnie, and grandson Bryan Gates.

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