Ethel Florene Greenfield Gates was born to Everett and Fern Greenfield on May 13, 1935 in Eckley, Colorado. She passed from this life on November 18, 2009 at the age of 74.

Ethel graduated from Yuma High School, and after a brief stint at a Nebraska college, she moved to downtown Denver to work and live.

Ethel and Bruce, her husband, first met as youngsters, in a brief but memorable encounter at a fair, later reconnecting and marrying in 1958.

Ethel and Bruce raised their children in the Eaton, CO area, enjoying numerous outdoor activities throughout the years including camping, fishing, and hunting. She loved dancing, singing, traveling, reading, movies and people. Ethel was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Ethel was preceded in death by son, Bruce Gates, Jr. and daughter,
Ginger Gates; parents, Everett and Fern Greenfield; sister, Verna and brothers, Bryce, Allen, Blaine and Lewis.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Bruce Gates, Sr.; children, Gail Gates and husband Craig Leary of Greeley, Colorado, Fernette Kautz of Castle Rock, Colorado, and Brian Gates and wife Leslie of Slidell, Louisiana; daughter-in-law, Cindy Gates and son-in-law, Bryan Clermont; her 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; sisters, Edna, Margaret, Doris and Jenny, and brothers, Everett, Jr. (Curly), and Norman.

Funeral services are to be held Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Akron, Colorado. Interment will follow at Akron Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Eben Ezer Lutheran Care Hospital where she spent the final years of her life in their tender care and will be missed. Brenner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.