A Celebration of Life Services for Rose Mary E. Gates age 85 of Enid will be 10:00 am Monday, November 19, 2018 in the Ladusau-Evans Chapel with Rev. Jim Edmison officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Meno under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
Rose Mary was born December 28, 1932 in Burnham, OK to Carl and Irene (Johnson) Cather and passed away Monday, November 12, 2018. She was raised in Pawnee County where she attended and graduated from high school.
Rose Mary arrived in Enid with her three children after the 13 year marriage to Donald L Allen. As a single mother, she sought immediate employment working hard as a waitress in various restaurants. Later she was hostess at the Ramada, then El Chico. She also became a sales clerk at Newmans Department Store and later checked at the original Boy’s Market on east Maine Street.
In mid 1968 the family left Enid to establish a home in Ringwood. For 13 years she and Dale Gates combined their families. After the divorce she returned to Enid and acquired a job at the Kwik Kopy and eventually became the sole operator there on east Willow Road. She also became a Mary Kay consultant. Upon retirement, she spent many years as an in-home healthcare provider and assistant.
Rose Mary was a bright and vibrant lady. She loved mingling with family, friends, and stranger alike (not that she recognized strangers as such!) from the bowling alleys to Braums and back to the Tuesday Senior Bowling league at Oakwood Bowl. She was a unique and optimistic person and for everyone who would indulge, she would admit to being a staunch “Rush Baby”. Rose Mary enjoyed attending all of the sporting events of her grandchildren as long as her health would allow.
Rose Mary is survived by her daughters; Kathryn Sue Busch and husband Rick and Jackie Lee Winkleman both of Enid, her four grandchildren, Darin, Danielle, Damon and Trent. She was blessed nine great grandchildren: Taylor and Makayla Burton, Sunday Rose Wilson; Caitlin and Carter Busch; Brittany Holman, Coldyn, Alexandria and Tye Winkleman and her siblings: Cherie Schmidt, Georgia Prines, Winnie May Derruisseax, Carlene Cravens and Carolyn Cather.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, son Larry Allen and brother, Vernon Cather.
Condolences may be made online and the service may be viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com .

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