Eula Gates' Obituary
Eula Mai Numa Gates, 95, died peacefully at home on April 29, 2014. She was born in Memphis, the daughter of Guy Irving Numa and Eula Stanton Numa. Eula Mai attended Cummings Elementary and graduated at age 16 from Messick High School, where she was class representative. She met her future husband, Julian Jack Gates, at West Tennessee State Teachers College (now the University of Memphis) and was a source of strength for him as he served in World War II, during which he spent over three years as a Japanese POW. Eula Mai and Jack married upon his return and spent the next 55 years together. After raising their children, she went to work for Memphis City Schools, serving as financial secretary at Messick and, after it closed, at Oakhaven High. A life-long Methodist, Eula Mai taught junior high Sunday school classes in both Dallas and Memphis. She was a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church most of her adult life. Eula Mai was a loving wife and mother, a faithful friend, and an obedient servant of Jesus Christ.In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Maxine Numa Tuggle, and her son-in-law, Rev. John E. Meeks. She is survived by her son, Julian Jack Gates Jr., her daughter, Marilyn Gates Meeks, five grandsons, Marcus (Rachel) Meeks, Matthew (Libby) Meeks, Benjamin (Patrice) Meeks, Alexander Gates and Ray Gates, as well as four beloved great-grandchildren.Visitation will be on Thursday, May 8th, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, with the service to follow at 2:00. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 480 So. Highland, Memphis TN 38111, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.Location: Garden of Time Arrow Color: White
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