Edith Marie Gates

Edith Marie Gates, 93, passed away on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 in Bellingham, Washington. She was born on September 28, 1918 in Portland, Oregon. She was the only surviving daughter of her mother Ellen K. Nilson who arrived from Sweden in the early 1900’s, and father C.G. Pearson, also a Swede, who died early in his construction career as a result of an accident while assisting on the Sellwood Bridge in Portland.

Edith attended Jefferson High School in Portland, and after graduation she worked for Jantzen Knitting and occasionally modeled for various outfits including the swimsuits. She met her husband, Vincent Ira Gates, in the late 1930’s on a train trip back from Chicago, Illinois. She was returning from vacation, and he was in transit to military duty based at Fort Lewis, Washington. Upon arriving home in Portland, Edith returned an engagement ring that was given to her prior to the trip to Chicago. After Vincent’s return from duty in Hawaii, they were married on November 25, 1942, prior to his subsequent travel abroad due to his military commitments. She later worked as an administrative assistant for Paul Keeney Co. in Portland. This activity kept her occupied during the Second World War while her husband was serving in the Pacific.

Following the War, during the 1950’s and 60’s, her work shifted homeward. She spent her days raising their two sons, maintaining the house of an Officer in the United States Army, and preparing for the required social gatherings of military personnel. The homes varied on a high frequency due to the constant movement in the military of her husband. Locations included Japan, the United States, and

Germany.

She returned to the Portland area in 1962 from Columbia South Carolina, while her husband was assigned to hardship duty in Korea. This allowed her, along with other things, to look after her mother who was living in Portland and suffering from severe arthritis. Upon his return to the US in 1963, he was assigned to Fort Lawton in Seattle, and she remained in Portland while her son Ron finished his high school adventure at Clackamas High School. Subsequent home sites following Fort Lawton were Fort Lee, Virginia, and Fort Ord in California, where he retired in 1967.

Upon husband’s retirement, they settled in Portland, Oregon, back at 13839 SE Tiara Drive, a home that she had been responsible for since the return from South Carolina. Vincent passed away in January of 1996, while Ron was in China working and Lauren was in South Dakota. She lived alone in Portland until May of 2010, when health reasons led her to Ferndale, Washington, initially to Lauren’s house, and ultimately to assisted living at Spring Creek in Bellingham.

Edith is survived by; Lauren Jon Gates (son) and wife Jeannie, Ronald Vincent Gates (son) and wife Zhu Jin Yuan (Lucy), Donald Gates (nephew), Grand Children; Earlene Shamim, Sarah Gates, Aubri Contreras, Holly Lockwood, James Barret, Cassandra DeLucia, and many Great Grandchildren.

She loved dancing, music and Lawrence Welk television shows. Was a member of the Laurelhurst Club where she maintained her weekly interest in dancing until such time as the subsequent pains in her legs would not allow her to function properly for a couple of days after the event. At that time she continued attending the gatherings, but only as an assistant, not an active dancing partner. She was organizer and ultimate leader and survivor of a monthly get together of people who were direct descendants in Portland of Swedish heritage. She maintained communications with many other ex-military personnel and their spouses through Military Officers Association of America.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 11:00am at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home. A committal service will follow at 12:00pm at Willamette National Cemetery.