Life is like the leaves of the mighty oak tree. It withstands the wind of time for a season, but the autumn comes, and it must go back to mother earth. So was the life of Frederick (Freddie Eugene Gates. On Saturday, March 23, 2024, our Heavenly Father called him home. He was bom November 25, 1951 to the union of the late Monroe and Willie Mae (Worthen) Gates in Barberton, Ohio.

He accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of The Livingstone Baptist Church in Barberton where he grew up.

He attended Washington Elementary, U.L. Light Junior High and Barbererton High School in Barberton. While in high school he was on the wrestling and football teams. He graduated high school in June of 1971.

In August of 1971 he enlisted into the United States Marine Corp. where he served four years with an honorable discharge from Camp Lejeune of North Carolina in August of 1975.

After returning home, he was employed by Barefoot Sole in Wadsworth, Ohio where they made boots and later worked for Chucks Auto Wrecking for years in Barberton. He never met a stranger. He loved talking with people and being outdoors. He would work on cars and his motorcycle that he liked to ride.

Due to health, he was living at the Hickory Ridge Nursing Home in the valley these last few years. He was preceded in death by his brother, Christopher Gates, Brother-in-law Bill Dunn, Sisters, Margret Gates, Mary (Percy) Wilson and Loretta (Larry) Webb.

He leaves to cherish his memory, sisters, Johnnie Mae Dunn, Carolyn (Willie) Iverson, Marlene Gates and Rachel Williams all of Akron, Ohio and a host of other relatives and friends. Want to thank his nephew Brandon Gates for always seeing after his uncle and keeping his hair cut when he could.