Gladys Ruth Gates

Gladys Ruth Gates, 88, of Cleveland, passed away Sunday, November 25, 2012 in a local healthcare facility. She attended Faith Baptist Church. She loved gardening and working with flowers. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Bertha Curtis Mull; first husband, John Lawrence Colbry; her second husband of 46 years, Henry Cecil Gates; sisters, Lena Longwith, Stella Benson, Beulah Picklesimer, Edith McCormick Pauline Mull, Elizabeth Davis and Elmina Leamon; and brothers, Claude "Sonny" Mull and Carl Mull. She is survived by her children, Brenda Ruth (Clarence, Jr.) Allen and Linda Colbry (Robert) Burgiss, all of McDonald and Miles (Charlene) Gates of Cleveland; seven grandchildren, David Gates, Gail Bottoms, Becky Pippenger, Janice Herron, Brian Burgiss, Sherry Sandidge and Terry Damron; step grandchildren, Amy Houle, Michael Blackmon and Scott Blackmon; 15 great grandchildren; sister, Bennie Swafford of Tasso; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at Grissom Funeral Home with Clarence Allen, Jr. and Tyson Griffin officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Chattanooga with Alex Damron, Johnny Pippenger, Brian Burgiss, William Sandidge, David Gates and Matt Damron serving as pallbearers. Her family will receive friends from 6:00-9:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Gates family guest book at www.grissomfh.net.