Florence Gates

Florence Gates was a woman of incredible strength, spirit, and love for her family. She was the kind of take-charge woman who would climb on the roof to fix the shingles, if she had to, never afraid to try anything. Florence was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, yet most of all, she was the pillar of strength her family was built around.

Florence's story began on a warm summer day in 1933, in the little farming town of Decatur, Michigan. Those were such difficult times in this country, which was struggling in the quagmire of the Great Depression. Nearly a quarter of Americans were unemployed, and had little reason for hope. Yet on September 1, 1933, Henry and Neta (Bigelow) Cubitt found a little light in their life, with the birth of a baby girl, a daughter they named Florence May.

Florence was the youngest of eight children in the Cubitt home, which for most of her childhood was located in the little town of Decatur. Her mother raised her essentially by herself, and Florence led a very typical childhood when she was a little girl, riding her bike around and playing with her friends. When she was 11 years old, though, the family packed up and left Decatur, for better opportunities in nearby Kalamazoo, in the days of World War II.

Florence attended Lincoln School in Kalamazoo, where she met a handsome young boy named Ralph Gates. The two began dating when she was just 13 years old, but she was old enough to know he was the boy for her! They went steady for 10 years, and on June 17, 1956, Florence and Ralph got married in Kalamazoo, beginning a wonderful life together.

Florence was an amazing wife and mother, who devoted her entire life to her loving family. Florence and Ralph were blessed with five beautiful children over the years, Linda, Judy, Virginia, Ralph and Chris, who filled their lives and home with such happiness.

Florence ran the home like a well-oiled machine, and juggled the duties of wife, mother and homemaker effortlessly. Florence loved to cook, and dinner was always on the table for Ralph after his hard day's work. She also made sure the kids all did their chores and got off to school on time, too. She was a very nurturing and caring mother, however, and they knew she was always there for them no matter the circumstances. She raised the family, while Ralph filled the role of provider.

After her children had all grown and got out on their own, Florence went to work outside the home doing housekeeping at the Two Cities Motel in Plainwell. After taking care of a husband and five kids all those years, she didn't know what to do with her excess energy! She was always doing something around the house, whether it was gardening, canning, sewing, crocheting, or knitting something. When her grandkids arrived, Florence knitted each of them a beautiful blanket. And she was never afraid to try something, from carpentry around the home, to even getting on the roof and fixing shingles!

Florence was far from all work and no play, however. She was a bit of a stoic person, yet loved her life very much, particularly spending time with her beloved Ralph. When they retired, they took a motor home on an incredible cross-country trip from Maine to California, then down to Alabama to visit Florence's family, and then to Atlanta to visit her grandchildren.

Florence had other loves, especially gambling. Florence loved everything from slot machines, to scratch-off lotto tickets and bingo. In 2005 she took her very first flight, when she and Ralph went to Las Vegas for a memorable vacation. Florence also had a beloved schnauzer named Trixie, who she nicknamed "User" because the dog only followed her around when it wanted something! She loved the pooch all the same, though.

Most of all, of course, Florence loved her family, and devoted her life to them. She especially loved her grandkids, and enjoyed playing cards with them, going shopping, or giving them advice. They shared a special relationship, and Florence could talk to them and listen to them as a friend.

Sadly, Florence was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, and true to her character, she bravely battled the disease long and hard. She could be strong-willed, and often stubborn, but she possessed a huge heart and an incredible strength. She also worried about others more than herself, and the most difficult part of being sick for her was that she couldn't take care of everyone else. Just as she had done for them their whole lives, her entire family pitched in to care for her and help out.

Florence died at her home surrounded by her family, after a brave battle with cancer, on Sunday, January 21, 2007, at the age of 73.

Florence was a remarkable woman, a woman of such amazing strength, spirit, and love. She was a strong-willed woman, an awesome mother, and a beautiful lady. Most of all, she was the pillar of strength her family was built around, yet what she stood for still stands with them today. She will be so greatly missed.

Learn more about Florence and visit with her family at her memorial service on Thursday at 1 PM at the Cooper Township Hall, 1590 West D Avenue, which will be followed by a time of fellowship. Florence's family includes her husband, Ralph; children Rick & Linda (Gates) Bush of Pine Lake, Tim & Judy (Gates) Hayes of Otsego, Tom & Virginia (Gates) Mattox of Lawton, Ralph & Roxanne Gates of Kalamazoo, and Chris Gates & Jim Edson of Allegan; grandchildren: Marc VanLent, Julie DePauw, Dan Bush, Melissa, Mandy, & Melinda Hayes, Jenifer Schuesler, Kimberly Vargo, Stephanie Mattox, Scott Mattox, Lesa Nazarians, and Eric Pumford; 12 great-grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings: Ann Smaltz, Isabelle McDonald, Neta Mathews, Mary Cheek, Richard Cubitt, Henry Cubitt, and Fred Cubitt. Please visit Florence's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read her Life Story, archive a favorite memory or photo, or sign her guestbook. Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of SW Michigan or to the West Michigan Cancer Center. Florence's family has been cared for by the Life Story Funeral Homes, RDMG, Plainwell, 120. S. Woodhams.