Melba Howerton Gates

Melba Howerton Gates, a former long time resident of Dyersburg, passed away peacefully June 1, 2014 in Tucson, AZ following a brief illness. Melba was born November 27, 1921 in Trumann, AR. At age three she came to Dyersburg with her two older sisters and resided in a local orphanage. After high school graduation, she went to work for Forcum Lannom where she met Lonnie Gates. On May 15, 1950 they were married and raised their family in Dyersburg until 1985 when they moved to Colorado Springs, CO to be near Melba's two sisters. In 1989, Lonnie and Melba moved to Tucson AZ to be near their daughter Susan, and her family. She was a sweet and loving caregiver to all. Melba was a committed Christian and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Dyersburg and later belonged to the Catalina Foothills Church in Tucson. She was a dedicated homemaker and active in her church playing piano and teaching Sunday school. Among the highlights of her life were trips to the Holy Land where she was a tour guide. She later served as office manager for The Dyersburg Internal Medicine Clinic, where she greatly enjoyed her professional career until retirement in 1985. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lonnie C. Gates, and her two sisters, Ruth (George) Hudson and Thelma (Merv) Black and grandson, Dee Canale Jr. Melba is survived by her son L. Franklin Gates and daughter Susan (Alan) Rogers of Tucson and Janet (Dee) Canale of Memphis TN, granddaughters Stephanie (Matthew) Ayers and Amy Rogers, grandsons William (Jeannine) Canale and Stuart J. (Bonna) Canale. Visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Dyersburg TN at noon June 7, 2014 with services at 1 PM and interment to follow in Fairview Cemetery. We would like to thank Curry Funeral Home in Dyersburg for their assistance with arrangements. Online condolences are available on our website- www.curryfuneral.com