Our mother, Ruth E. Gates, left this earthly home to join her beloved husband in the early morning hours of January 30, 2012. She was born in Everett Washington October 8, 1926 to Marta & Sven (Uno) Ogren, the second of three daughters. She grew up in Everett, graduating from high school in 1944. She attended Washington State College in Pullman, where she met a dashing ex-Marine, Floyd Gates, working in the dining hall at her dormitory, and the rest, as we say, is history. After Floyd graduated from WSC, he began his lifelong career at Hanford working for various contractors as an accountant and accounting manager. Meanwhile, Ruth kept the home fires burning and raised the young family consisting of two daughters and two sons. She enjoyed bowling, pinochle, bridge, and with Floyd, fell in love with square dancing at the Shufflers Shanty. One of her greatest feelings of accomplishment came when she finally conquered her fear of driving and got her license at the age of 46. She took great pride in her children and husband and was a constant figure at the little league field cheering for the teams coached by Floyd for almost fifty years.

She is survived by her children, Linnea Williams and Tina Allaway (Kennewick); Timothy Gates (Darla), Metaline Washington; and Wesley Gates (Kelly), Jerome Idaho. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Kristina Harper (Paul), Olive Branch Mississippi; Tara Williams, Seattle; Brooke Williams, Kennewick, Erin Schmidt (Ken), Pasco; Jared Allaway (Melodie), Auburn Washington; Kayla Carroll, Arizona, and Kacey Gates, Jerome Idaho. She also leaves two step-grandchildren in Spokane Washington, Neil and Jolene Salazar. She is also survived by fourteen great grandchildren, her sister, Maria Larson, of University Place, Washington and many nieces & nephews. She is preceded in death by her much loved husband, parents, sister Unamay, and many aunts, uncles, and beloved friends.

There will be a graveside services Friday, February 3rd at 11:00 am at the Sunset Memorial Gardens on the bypass highway in Richland. There will be a chance to tell stories at a reception following the service at the Event Center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Center or the Heart Association in either Ruth or Floyd's name.