Lola Bea Gates
Lola Bea Gates
August 17, 1946 ~ May 16, 2017
Lola Bea Gates, formerly of Marble Falls, went home to be with The Lord on Tuesday, May 16, after a short stay at Hospice Quality Care in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Lola was diagnosed with advanced liver cancer in early February.
She made it known that her faith was not shaken and if God called her, she was ready to go.
When things got difficult, her favorite quote was, "After you've done all you can do, just stand."
Lola was born on August 17, 1946 in Summerfield, Louisiana to the late Berry Williams, Sr. and Idell Hill.
She was 70 years old when she passed away and a resident of Spencer, Oklahoma.
Lola accepted Christ and was baptized at a young age.
Later in life she became a licensed minister working in conjunction with The True Churches of the Apostolic Faith serving in the church and helping those who were in need.
Her faith in God was unwavering.
She and her husband Clark started God's Way Ministry in Spencer, Oklahoma where she served as an associate minister until her passing.
She was a faithful servant, devoted wife, mother, sister and friend.
Lola had a wonderful singing voice and used her gift in the church choir.
She had a very good sense of humor and loved a good laugh.
She loved good food and learned to cook by watching her mother and oldest sister, Ella Mae.
One of her signature baked goods was her peanut butter cake.
She enjoyed passing on her gifts and wisdom to the next generation.
Lola always had a heart for children and those in need of a helping hand.
She became a volunteer at the Crisis Center while living in Marble Falls and volunteered in the Head Start Program as well.
She worked as a teacher’s assistant with special needs children in Spencer and Oklahoma City.
Many times the tasks were challenging, whether helping someone suffering from abuse or helping a child learn to read, she was always there giving her best.
Lola loved children. She had seven children and five step-children prior to marrying Clark Gates, Sr. Once they married on April 7, 1995 she got an even bigger clan.
When inquisitive strangers asked her how many children she had, she often joked that she didn't have enough fingers and toes and would need to borrow a few fingers for the count.
The love Lola and Clark shared was a deep abiding love and friendship and can be summed up by a piece of framed artwork hanging on a wall in their home that reads, "I walked into the heart of a friend...and found a home."
Lola is survived by her loving husband Elder Clark Gates, Sr.; her children, El Toro Donnell (Yolanda) Foster, Angela Levette (Chris) Faulknor, Victor (LaTaisha) Bell, Troy Lynn (Samantha) Bell, Travis Dwayne Bell, and Ella Renea Bell; her step-children, Kim Gates, Lesley (Tim) Wheeler, Carla Gates, Mia Gates, Ava (Joseph) Howard, Iris Gates, Clark Gates, Jr., Phillip (Tanika) Gates, Timothy (Cynica) Gates, Paul Gates, Quentin Gates, Matthew (Rameitha) Gates, Kevin Bell, DeLois Ann Bell, Stephanie Bell, Karen Bell and William Bell, Jr., brothers Robert Lewis (Dorothy) Williams, Jessie (Fannie Mae) Williams, Obbie Lee (Martha) Williams and Audie Ray (Virginia)Williams, 43 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
Lola was predeceased in death by her son; Christopher Berry Bell; parents Berry Williams, Sr. and Idell Hill; brothers Elzie Williams, Gary Donnell Williams and Berry Williams, Jr.; sisters Ella Mae 'Hundo' Williams and Dorothy Ann 'Dot' Williams.
Visitation will be Tuesday, May 23, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Clements Wilcox Funeral Home, Funeral Service will be Wednesday, May 24, 11 a.m. at Clements Wilcox Funeral home and burial at Marble Falls City Cemetery.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7 KJV
