Mary Lou Gates

A person’s life is not measured by how much she loves, but by how much she is loved by others. Many people are sorrowing now at the passing of one they deeply loved and respected, Mary Lou Gates, age 78, of New Philadelphia. She suddenly and peacefully left her home for a better one on Oct. 29, 2010.With her generous nature, she was affectionately known as the “Candy Lady” at church where she always had a basket of goodies to share with children and adults alike. Her love of God saw her at every worship service as her health would allow. Even when she didn’t feel well, she always maintained a cheerful disposition and a positive attitude. She and her husband, Ron, made a loving team. He worked as many as three jobs at a time while she stayed home and raised four children. Her pioneer spirit allowed her to tackle many jobs around the house that some might have considered “man’s work”; yet her creative nature made that house a beautiful home with her sense of style, exquisite sewing creations, artistic flower arrangements, and her many hand crafted quilts. Her hospitable nature opened her home for many gatherings of friends and family.In addition to her work at home, she also was a familiar face for eight years each while working at the former Baltimore Clothing Store in Newcomerstown, and Stoll’s Country Cupboard in New Philadelphia before relocating to New Philadelphia in 1976.Born at Newcomerstown, March 30, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Forrest H. and Abi E. Cline Roe. A 1950 graduate of Newcomerstown High School, Mary Lou married the love of her life, Ronald P. Gates, on Aug. 12 of that same year. Together they went on to celebrate nearly 57 years of marriage before his passing on June 27, 2007. She was a faithful member of the New Philadelphia Church of Christ.To all who knew Mary Lou, one could never find a more selfless, caring and generous individual. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her, especially her children, Cindy Gates Welch and her husband Bill of New Philadelphia, Steve Gates and his wife June of Sunbury, O., F.H. Gates and his wife Becky of Brazil and Stacy Gates and his wife Barb of Savanna, Ga.; her grandchildren, Alicia (Sean) Welch Mills of Dover, Eric Welch of Virginia, Courtney (Neale) Welch Linge of South Dakota, Melissa Gates of Texas, Lucas (Anna) Gates of Tennessee and Vanessa (Douglas) Gates Ribeiro of Georgia; and nine great-grandchildren, Peyton, Presley and Mia Linge; Samuel, Joshua and Asher Mills, Nathanael and Lucas Ribeiro, and Iris Gates.Waiting for Mary Lou in heaven are her parents; her husband, Ron; three brothers, Willis, Albert and Bob Roe; and an infant sister, Martha Jane Roe.Family and friends may call at the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Monday, Nov. 1, from 4 to 7 and one hour preceding the funeral. A funeral service celebrating Mary Lou’s life will be held Tuesday morning, Nov. 2, at 11 in the funeral home’s chapel.Burial alongside her husband will be in West Lawn Cemetery at Newcomerstown. Following the committal service, a memorial reception will be held at the Church of Christ at New Philadelphia.At Mary Lou’s request, memorial contributions should be made to the Mid-Western Children’s Home, PO Box 48, Pleasant Plain, O. 45162.Linn-Hert-Geib(330) 343-5506www.geibcares.com