Harold Fred Gates

Harold Fred Gates, age 84, of Sylva died Friday, September 25, 2015. A lifelong resident of Jackson County, Harold was born April 18, 1931. He is the son of the late Fred Henderson and the late Edna Nancy (Sutton) Gates. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Frankie Roberts and a brother, Millard Gates. He was a retired maintenance worker for the Town of Sylva. He enjoyed rocking on his front porch and loved driving around parking lots looking for money. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ellen Ashe Gates; a daughter, Glenda and Melvin Shuler of Baton Rouge, LA; a son, David and Carrie Gates of Dillsboro, six grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; sisters, Betty Jones of Sylva, Margaret Lee of Asheville, Hilda Sellers of Sylva, Carolyn Hoyle of Dillsboro, and Phyllis Stiwinter of Cashiers; and brothers, Bill Gates of Dillsboro and Gary Gates of Asheville. The funeral will be held at 7:00 pm on Monday, September 28 in the chapel of Appalachian Funeral Services, 165 Skyland Drive, Sylva, NC with Rev. Melvin Shuler, Rev. Tim Pressley, and Rev. Eddie Stillwell officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Memorial Gardens, Sylva on Tuesday, September 29 at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 pm before the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sylva Church of God Building Fund, PO Box 2011, Sylva, NC 28779. .