After a long battle with ALS Donna Ruth Gates passed away peacefully on December 22. 2023 at the age of 76 at home with her family in littleton, Colorado, where she lived for more than 30 years. Born in Joplin, Missouri, she moved to Colorado at the age of 2 with her late parents Mary Ella and Robert Gordan Childers. Growing up in Englewood with her siblings Debbie Haney, Sherry Koinzan, and late brother Jim was filled with fun and adventure where they became the terrors of Englewood. After graduating from Englewood High School and Bon-Ton Beauty College, she married Jerald Allan Gates in 1966. Over 8 wonderful years, they started a family, welcoming sons Jeffery Robert in 1974 and Jared Richard in 1982. Donna took immense joy in watching her boys grow into outstanding young men. Grandparenthood brought her even more happiness, as Jeff and Jared started their own families. In 2002 Jeff married Whittney and she became a grandmother for the first time. Jared would marry Jean in 2006, and they would make her a grandmother 4 more times. Gavin Walker, Logan Richard, Wyatt Alan, Cayden Charles and soon to be her first granddaughter. Donna cherished each grandchild with her big and beautiful heart. After retiring from the pastry department of King Soopers, she dedicated her time to hobbies, the outdoors, and, most importantly her family. She devoted much of her free time to learning our family history and preserving those memories and keepsakes that meant so much to those that came before her. From her love of family to the outdoors and everything in between, her presence will be missed dearly and the void she leaves behind will be impossible to fill.
Never forgotten. We love you always, Momasaurus, Gran Gran, Donna Ruthy.
