Maryhelen (Creighton) Gates

     Maryhelen Gates, 98, of Washington, formerly of Oakville, passed away on February 2, 2020, with family by her side.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at the Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral and Cremation Services of Wapello, formerly the Dudgeon McCulley Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Edwards Cemetery.  Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  Memorials may be directed to the Prairie Flower Baptist Church of Washington in memory of Maryhelen.  Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com

     Maryhelen Creighton was born on August 15, 1921, in Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Rilla Faye (Bolding) and Joseph Franklin Creighton. Maryhelen graduated from Oakville High School in 1939 and the Burlington Junior College in 1941.  She married Everett Oreno Gates in Nichols, Iowa on May 6, 1943.  She worked for the Burlington Instrument Company, Iowa Ordnance Plant and Sylvania. Maryhelen raised purebred dogs for ten years including seven champions. She was a member of the Oakville United Methodist Church, Oakville Community Church and Prairie Flower Baptist Church. Maryhelen was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Oakville for 38 years. 

     Maryhelen and Everett loved gardening and farming, sharing their bounty with friends and family. She was a crafter, loved to play cards and will be missed by many friends and her family. 

     Maryhelen is survived by two sons; Ronald Gates and wife, Kay, of Washington, IA, and Dennis Gates and wife, Luciana, of Carrollton, TX; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.  

     She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Everett; one sister, Pauline Brumley and one brother, John Creighton.

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