Extracted from The Port Arthur News (Port Arthur, TX)
Tuesday, December 30, 2003

Nelson W. Gates

Groves -- Nelson W. Gates, 89, of Groves, Texas died Sunday, December 28, 2003, at Christus St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur.

He was born in Grant Parish, Louisiana, on September 13, 1914, and had lived in Jefferson County for the past 55 years. He was a retired carpenter with Construction Local #502, where he had worked for over 50 years, and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Groves.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2003, at the First Baptist Church in Groves, with Reverend Charles Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves.

Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2003, at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves.

Mr. Gates is survived by his wife, Vivian Broussard-Gates of Groves; three daughters, Ginger Goates, Dale Simon, both of Port Acres; and Maudine White of Port Arthur; one son, Gary L. Gates of Groves; sister, Una Lanier of Alexander, Louisiana; thirteen grandchildren, Kemi Abell, Erica Dean, Kriste Scarborough, Keri Ribby, Deana Blackmon, Kevin Hebert, Troy Hebert, Ray Hebert, Brian Simon, Robert Simon, Brian Gates, Gina Gates, and Wendy Gates; and twenty-nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Frances Avis Gates.