Karel Lee Gates, 84, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, at the Rowley Masonic Community in Perry, Iowa.
Memorial services will be he held Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Crossroads Church in Perry at 11 a.m. Visitation with family will begin at 10 a.m. at the Crossroads Church until the time of the service.
Memorials will be given to the Crossroads Church for Evangelism and Outreach and may be left at the Carris Family Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent at www.carrisfuneralhome.com.
Karel Lee Barnes Gates was born May 19, 1933, in Guthrie, Okla., to parents Preston and Marie (Williams) Barnes.
She graduated from high school in Guthrie in 1950. She attended Draughon School of Business and graduated in 1951.
Karel worked for Kerr-McGee Oil Company for one year prior to meeting and marrying Richard Gates in 1952.
From 1953 to 1961, Richard and Karel lived in Buffalo, N.Y. During those years, all four of their children were born, and Karel served as a professional homemaker.
They moved to North Syracuse in 1961, where Karel continued to serve as a homemaker and stood by the side of Richard as he taught, coached and served in school administration.
In 1969 Karel and Richard moved to Upland, Ind., where Richard served on the faculty of Taylor University. Karel served as administrative assistant in the athletic department until 1976, when she obtained her real estate sellers and later her broker’s license. Karel was a real estate agent for Puckett and ERA Reality in Marion, Iind., until 1989, when she retired.
From 1989 to 1999, Karel remained active in Upland Community Church and faithfully served the needs of her husband, children and others in the community.
Karel, Dick and all four of their children were charter members of Upland Community Church. Karel was actively involved there until she and Dick moved to Melbourne, Fla., in 1997, where they first attended Central Baptist Church and then First Baptist Church from 1999 to 2014.
In 2015 Karel decided to move nearer to at least one family member and chose Perry to be her home and began attending Crossroads Church in Perry, where her son is the pastor.
Karel is preceded in death by her parents, Preston Barnes (1934) and Marie Clayton (1974); brothers, Bob Mullinax of Oklahoma City (2005) and Preston Barnes of Oklahoma City (2011); and her husband, Richard Gates of Melbourne, Fla. (2014).
Karel is survived by her daughter, Sharon Snell of Calgary, Alberta; daughter, Deb (Rodger) Varland of Kenya, Africa; son, Rick (Cheryl) Gates of Perry, and daughter, Lynda (Gary) Lubenow of Vancouver, Wash.; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
