Sallie Ann Gates, 92, of Coldwater passed away Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at Promedica Coldwater Regional Hospital.
A funeral service for Sallie will be held Monday, April 12, 2021 11:00 AM at the Coldwater United Methodist Church with Reverend Julie Yoder Elmore officiating. Interment will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Coldwater following the service. The family will receive friends for visitation Sunday, April 11, 2021 from 3-6:00 PM at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater. Masks and social distancing will be required for those attending services.
She was born January 23, 1929 to Frank and Mildred (Lucas) Gamby in Coldwater, MI. Sallie was the valedictorian of Coldwater High School’s graduating class of 1946 and on May 2, 1948 she married L. Jack Gates in Coldwater and he preceded her in death. She was first and foremost a mother and homemaker; Sallie had worked for various places such as Gambles Warehouse, Gamby Candy Company, AAA travel agency, Coldwater Optometrics and finally finishing her working career at All Seasons Travel where she retired from in 1990. She had been a member of the Coldwater United Methodist Church, American Legion Auxiliary and the Coldwater Elks. Sallie was a sweet and loving woman that generously offered her time tutoring at the United Methodist church and the Jr. High school in Coldwater. She had served as a volunteer at the Coldwater Community Health Center and the Food Pantry; but above all, her favorite way of spending time was with her family. She loved playing cards especially “Skipbo” with her great grandchildren often quite competitively but always filled with laughter. Sallie was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who will be dearly missed.
Sallie is survived by her children Sherry (Richard) Potchynok of Northville, MI, Barry (Joyce) Gates of Ann Arbor, Terry (Jim) Whelan of Coldwater, Toby (Donna) Gates of West Milton, OH, Rick Gates of Coldwater; her brother John (Barbara) Gamby of Coldwater; 15 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren and her loving nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband Jack, she was preceded in death by her parents and her half-brother Charles Gamby.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Branch Area Food Pantry or to the family to go to the Jack and Sallie Gates U of M Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater.
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