Colleen M. Gates, 76, of Hillsboro, died on Friday, June 18, 2021, at 5:21 a.m. at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 24, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Funeral services will follow, beginning at 7 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Myron Kirk, pastor of Grace Fellowship Church in Fillmore, officiating.
Mrs. Gates was born April 4, 1945, in Hillsboro, to Paul and Eileen (Redding) Collins. She married Frederick Gates on Sept. 26, 1970, in Springfield, and he preceded her in death on Nov. 4, 2018.
She attended Hillsboro High School and went on to own and operate Gates Pizza in Hillsboro. She had also worked at Ryan’s Steakhouse in Springfield.
A lifelong resident of Hillsboro, Mrs. Gates was a member of the Hillsboro Lions Club. She loved spending time with her family and bowling, and was a member of a bowling league. A green thumb, she also loved flowers and gardening.
She is survived by her children, Michael Gates, Jason Gates and Debbie (wife Elizabeth) Otter, all of Hillsboro; eight grandchildren, Jessica (Joe Wittenmyer) Otter, Jennifer (husband Josh) Jeffers, Jackie (Jason Hockett) Naugle, Ann (husband Zach) Mcintyre, Lacey (husband Tim) Cyprian, Lauren Ginger, Isaiah Gates and Faith Bolyard; 12 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Betty Jean Gurley and Larry Collins, both of Hillsboro.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Gates was preceded in death by her daughter, Cathy Otter; and her parents.
Memorials may be directed to the family or the American Lung Association.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.basspattondeanfh.com.
