Alta Marie Watson Gateley

Alta Marie (Watson) Gateley was born to Wesley and Alta Watson in Ola, Arkansas, November 17, 1915. Marie had five brothers. She married Chet Gateley in May, 1933, and they moved to Enid, Oklahoma, and then to Oklahoma City where their daughter, Carol, was born and 14 years later, Colleen. Marie worked as a nurse’s aide while Chet was in Hawaii during the war. After that, she sold Luzier’s Cosmetics and then worked in their office in Oklahoma City. After Colleen was born, she became a fulltime homemaker until they moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas. They lived there several years while Colleen was growing up, and she kept books for Chet’s overhead door business. They moved to Edmond in 1974.

Marie loved sewing, always had a large garden, loved coffee, and loved to cook for family, friends, and those that needed meals. She served many years with Mobile Meals in Edmond. She loved her family and church more than anything, and was very active in United Methodist Women at First United Methodist Church in Edmond. Her strong faith has meant so much to her family.

She always kept in touch with all of the living family members on both sides of the family. As long as she was able, she went every year to the “Decoration” memorial service in Arkansas and attended the high school reunions. Marie spent several years taking care of Chet after he developed Alzheimer’s, until he passed away in 1991. She will always be remembered for her kindness to family and friends.

Marie is survived by one brother, J. F. Watson and wife, Mary Ann; daughter, Carol Crisp and husband, Aubrey; daughter, Colleen Bixler; granddaughters: Paula Salyer, Julie Butemeyer, and Katheryn Bixler; grandsons, Rory Crisp and wife, Kelley, and Steven Crisp and wife, Angie; great-grandchildren: Caitlin Pratt and husband Curtis, Chad Salyer, Philip Salyer and wife, Brianna, Shawn Salyer and wife, Mindy, and Kory, Taylor and Maddie Crisp; great-great grandchildren: Mya, Rylee, Reed, Ryder and Reece Salyer; and several nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.

Golden Age Nursing Home in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and Companion Hospice, were a blessing during her last year, and will always be remembered for their wonderful care and kindness to her and her family.

Viewing will be at Baggerley from noon to 8pm, Sunday. Service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Edmond, August 10, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. with interment to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First United Methodist Church, Edmond, Oklahoma.