Ora Madeleine Bills Gates

Ora Madeleine Bills Gates died peacefully in St. George, Utah, on March 10, 2003. She was born on July 11, 1920 in Blackfoot, ID, to Oren Eugene and Charlotte Leone Pope Bills. She was their oldest child and only daughter. She was followed by brothers, Reid Gordon, Jay Pope and Neil Eugene. She attended school in Blackfoot, excelling in academic achievements and musical accomplishments, until her parents moved to Logan, UT, in 1937. She graduated from Logan High School in 1938. She attended Utah State Agricultural College, where she majored in English and Library Science. She continued her academic excellence in college. As a junior, she fell in love with Lawrence Keith Gates, a pre-med major from Antimony, Utah. They both graduated from ?the AC? and were married on March 18, 1943 in the Logan LDS Temple, just prior to Keith enrolling in the University of Utah Medical School. While Keith studied at the U, Ora was employed at the university library. After Keith?s graduation, they moved to Providence, RI, then to Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA. After the USAF, they moved to Logan, where Keith was in medical general practice for six years. In 1955 they moved to Ann Arbor, MI , while Keith completed an opthalmology residency at Univ of Michigan. They returned to Logan, where they lived for many happy years until the sunny weather of St. George beckoned them. Their marriage was blessed by the birth of three children: Sheila Lynn, Allison Anne and Lawrence Keith, Jr. Ora was a devoted wife and mother. She was an accomplished person who brought culture and love to her family. She excelled in handwork and completed many beautiful pieces. She was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served in numerous capacities, including Relief Society President. She was devoted to the Republican Party where she worked diligently in both state and Cache County organizations. She was a loyal Aggie and served as President of the Old Main Society. She is survived by her husband, Lawrence Keith. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on March 18. She is also survived by daughter Sheila Joseph Miller of North Logan, son Lawrence Keith, Jr. Jennifer Salem, OR, Sheila?s daughter Melinda Michael Thielen, Allison?s children Margaret, Elizabeth, Daniel and Joseph, and Larry?s daughters Gwyneth and Vivian, great-grandson Jason Thielen, brothers Reid Marjorie of Phoenix and Jay Shirley of Malad, sister-in-law Dorothy Bills of North Logan, many nieces, nephews and treasured in-laws from the Gates family. She was preceeded in death by her parents, brother Neil, daughter Allison and grandson Jonathan. Funeral services will be held at 12:30 PM on Saturday, March 15 in the Logan 9th Ward Chapel, 125 East 500 North. Friends may call at Nelson Funeral Home on Friday from 6 to 8 PM and at the chapel on Saturday from 11:00 AM to 12:10 PM. Burial will be in the Logan City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Ora?s name to the LDS Church?s Perpetual Education Fund. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com .