Eleanor D Gates

Eleanor was born to Lovett Palmer "Buck" and Lucile (Barnard) Dewey on November 19, 1925 in Madison, Florida. At the age of 14 the family moved to Clearwater, Florida where she attended school and graduated from Clearwater High.

On April 18, 1949, she married the love of her life, Jack Thomas Gates, also of Clearwater, who was a member of the "Black Cat Squadron" during WWII. She then began working for J.C. Penny in downtown Clearwater where she remained for a number of years before being hired at the Palm Pavilion on Clearwater Beach. For over three decades, she sold swimwear and beach attire to returning customers who affectionately nicknamed her "Red" for her stunning red hair.

She was a 50 plus year member of First United Methodist Church of Clearwater where she faithfully served as a greeter on Sunday mornings and a member of the pew crew.

Eleanor loved working in her yard trimming, planting and driving her riding lawn mower. She loved dancing to the music of the forties and would jitterbug to the sound of the big bands like Glen Miller and Benny Goodman.

Some of her fondest memories were her travels with Jack to his Navy reunions throughout the United States. Her favorite part of the country was the western states where she were she never tired of the grandeur of the Rockies, the majesty of the Grand Tetons, and the allure of Yellowstone with its diversity of flora and fauna.

With Eleanor, family came first, always wanting everyone to be together on holidays and birthdays. Her favorite was Easter. Every year she organized an Easter egg hunt in which participation was mandatory. There were always prizes and heavy competition between the grandchildren.

Her best friend and husband Jack preceded her in death in 2011. She is survived by her two children: Pam Lutgen (Mike) of Largo, Florida and Tom Gates (Michele) of Belleair, Florida; Grandchildren: Catherine Marshburn, Lisa Mahronic (Chris), Matthew Sinn (Holley), Mark Sinn (Andrea) and Great Grandchild Teddy Sinn.

Due to social distancing guidelines, her celebration of life service will be announced at a later date when restrictions are lifted.