Lou Gates

Lou Gates, of the Big Bend community, passed October 15, 2024, at Via Christi Village in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Lou Ella was born to Claude and Hazel (Postelwait) Dixon on July 13, 1933, in the Bressie Community near Marland Okla. She began school at Burbank where she started long lasting friendships with her classmates. Being most fond of her days on the basketball court playing for the Pirates, she would reminisce often of those memorable days. Her family later moved to Ponca City where she attended High School, graduating in 1951.

On December 22, 1951, Lou married the love of her life James ‘Jim’ Franklin Gates in Newkirk. They made their first home in Rapid City, South Dakota where Jim was stationed in the Air Force until October 1953. The family then relocated to Ponca City.

After raising her children to semi-responsible ages, she went to work for Conoco as a Key Punch Operator, retiring after 16 years in 1985. She held other jobs which included Osage County and the Ponca City Hospital. 

Upon Jim’s diagnosis with cancer, she spent 15 years doing doctoring and treatments for his benefit. Jim passed away in 2017 after celebrating 65 years of marriage in December of 2016. The couple had both accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior in January 1954 and were baptized at the Big Bend Baptist Church.

Lou is survived by her children Jimmy II (Jeanne) Gates of Fairfax, Janie (Chuck) Davis of Ponca City, Tim (Susan) Gates of Ponca City, and Claudia Lentz of Fairfax, OK, grandchildren; Kimetha, Matthew, Julie, Jayson, Jill, Lance, and Talby, eighteen great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jim, two sisters, Infant Baby Dixon, and Betty Boots Wayman and one brother, George Dixon.

Visitation will be held from 3pm to 7pm, Wednesday, October16, 2024 at Hunsaker Wooten Funeral Home Chapel. A graveside service will be held at 2 pm Thursday, October 17 at the Pixley Cemetery (Big Bend Community) with Chaplain Gary Wilburn officiating. Pallbearers will be Grandchildren.

The family wishes to give special thanks to Humanity Hospice and Via Christi for their professional and caring nature. We request that donations in lieu of flowers be made to Humanity Hospice in Lou’s name.