Former councilman, educator Melvin Gateley remembered as tireless civic leader

Former Cape Girardeau Councilman Melvin Gateley was remembered Monday as a tireless civic leader who helped beautify the city, spearheading an organization that planted thousands of rose bushes and daffodils, many with his own hands.

Gateley died Monday at the Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau at the age of 91.

A former educator, Gateley served 21 years as principal of L.J. Schultz School in Cape Girardeau. Gateley served eight years on the city council from 1992 to 2000. He twice ran unsuccessfully for mayor, in 1994 and again in 2002, losing first to Al Spradling III and later to Jay Knudtson.

Spradling served with Gateley on the city council.

�He really pushed for property standards. He just wanted to keep Cape clean,� Spradling recalled.

Cape Girardeau City Councilman Melvin Gateley speaks Jan. 5, 1993, in opposition to the council setting a special election to consider riverboat gambling in Cape Girardeau.Southeast Missourian file

�He was one of the hardest working people for being retired,� Spradling said.

Spradling recalled Gateley, armed with a shovel, would drive around town in his pickup, stopping to tend to the rose bushes and flowers he planted.

Gateley was �very positive� when it came to Cape Girardeau, Spradling said.

Knudtson said Gateley was �an amazing� person who �loved this community.� Knudtson added, �In a way, he was Mr. Cape Girardeau.�

Gateley loved to get personally involved in community projects.

�He had an amazing passion to just get things done,� Knudtson said.

Once, as councilman, he was frustrated the Missouri Department of Transportation had not mowed a grassy strip of land near a major intersection. So, he went out and mowed it himself, Knudtson recalled.

�He was out there with a push lawn mower,� Knudtson said.

He was involved in numerous civic efforts, including serving as chairman of the city�s bicentennial commission in the early 1990s.

Gateley was recognized for his civic efforts with the Spirit of America Award in 2005. He said at the time he was �flabbergasted� to win the award. �There are so many worthy people in Cape Girardeau,� he said.

Knudtson said he had a lot of respect for Gateley even when they were on different sides of an issue.

�I always referred to him as Mr. Gateley,� Knudtson said.

Former Mayor Harry Rediger worked with Gateley on Vision 2000, a community effort to beautify the city.

�He was a hands-on guy,� remembered Rediger. �He wanted to be a friend of everybody.�

Gateley planted a rose garden that once sat behind city hall. The rose bushes, with new amenities paid for via donations, were relocated to Murtaugh Park, in front of the Red House Interpretive Center near the intersection of Main and William streets.

The revamped Melvin Gateley Garden was dedicated in April 2015.

�Isn�t it great to live in Cape?� Gateley asked at the dedication.

City manager Scott Meyer said Gateley was �a humble person� who gave to the community without expecting anything in return. Meyer added, �That is a quite a legacy to leave.�

A visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Lynwood Baptist Church.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Mark Anderson officiating. Burial will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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