Judith Frances Gates, formerly of Mason, passed away on Thursday, March 2, at the age of 79.  Survivors include her husband Leighton Gates.

JUDY AND I SPENT 57 YEARS MARRIED, WORKING TOGETHER, TRAVELING TOGETHER, PARTYING TOGETHER, ETC.

The best way I can describe our relationship is, we were best friends, partners, lovers, advisors, business partners, etc, in other words we were each other's DESTINY. Born 6-19-1943 Went to Heaven 3-01-2023

JUDY and I met in the Baptist Church in Pueblo, Colorado where I worked for the Colorado & Wyoming Railroad, and she worked at the 1 ^st National Bank as an accountant. I proposed to her, and she accepted. As my father was in bad health, we moved to Western Grove, Arkansas, got married and had our son Leighton Gates II. We then moved to Houston, Texas. Judy went to the hospital where the Dr's advised her not to try to have the baby as was likely neither of them would survive, Judy and I decided to have the baby, required a full blood transfusion but she and baby Nancy Leigh pulled through ok.

Judy went to work for Tenneco, and I worked several jobs. Judy and I built a Trailer Park and put mobile homes on all the spaces and rented them out. Judy helped clean up between tenants and did the accounting. I was the labor. From there we added two more businesses plus bought airplanes and opened our own charter service where Judy trained on a Seneca II [high-performance twin-engine plane]. We sold out and bought a ranch where a river ran through it, between San Angelo and Abilene on the Colorado River, where we lived for 20 years before we sold it due to Judy's health.

Graduate Pueblo State College—Accounting. Then a CPA in San Antonio. Channelview Fire Department Women's Auxiliary. Helped start EMT program in Texas, and was a certified EMT, ECA, Red Cross Advanced First Aid.

To sum up-Judy was a wildcat when needed and covered my back several times. IN THE NAME OF JESUS, GOD BLESS HER.

Visitation with the family will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home with the service to follow immediately after. Interment will be at the Grit Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at masonfuneralhome.net