Katherine Gates
Katherine Louise Gates, 78, of Parker, died Dec. 27, in
Denver.
Funeral services were Jan. 2 in Parker.
Born July 9, 1925, in Pueblo, she was the daughter of Paul
Kurger and Georgia (Huff) Spoor. She grew up in Denver with her
siblings, Bill and Sally. She graduated from Denver East High
School.
During her early adult life, Mrs. Gates focused on being a
mother to her three children, David, Connie and Kathy. With very
little money and an overabundance of love, she taught her children
to live life to its fullest and never take a day for granted,
family members said.
In the 1950s, Mrs. Gates began a new role as a career woman. Her
first job was as a secretary at KTLN Radio in Denver. That led to a
promotion to traffic manager. From there she moved to Bogard
Advertising and worked her way from copywriter to the company’s
first woman account executive. Mrs. Gates was one of the pioneers
for career-minded independent women, her family said.
In the 1970s, Mrs. Gates met George “Red” Gates who fostered her
independence and free spirit. She married him June 8, 1986, in
Denver. The couple enjoyed traveling together and reveled in Mrs.
Gates’ passion for collecting pot shards from the Four Corners area
and exploring Choco Canyon.
After she retired, she began to research her family’s genealogy.
Her research led her to the Netherlands, where she found her
grandfather’s relatives, the Spoors. She traveled to Europe with
one of her daughters and two of her grandchildren, where they
extended the family’s ties.
She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2001. She remained
positive and cheerful about her future, her family said.
Besides her genealogy, she enjoyed studying Germans from Russia
and the Anasazi Indians. She also enjoyed sewing and
quilting.
“Through the years, Kate’s family has grown in size with
stepchildren, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends,” a
family memorial said. “She never ran out of love or warmth or
charm, always finding just exactly the way to make whoever was in
her presence welcome, valued and loved.”
Mrs. Gates is survived by her husband; sons David Allan Trott
and Christopher Tyler Gates; daughters Connie Ann Carr and her
husband, Roger, Kathy Sue Bailey, Janice Ann Wilson and her
husband, John, Shannon Lee Cruthers and her husband, Mark, Jan
Gates and Kathy Hansen; 10 grandchildren; seven
great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends and
extended family.
Memorial contributions can be made in her name to Alzheimer’s
Association, Rocky Mountain Chapter, 789 Sherman St., Denver, CO
80203.
Parker Funeral Home made arrangements.