Barbara Gates

Barbara Ann Woolf Gates, 76, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2011, at her home in Jackson.

She was born Sept. 3, 1934, in Center Hill, Fla., to William Hermon and Florence Marie Hawkins Woolf. Many of her happiest years were spent as a teenager living with her beloved grandmother, Minnie Poindexter Woolf, in Center Hill.

Barbara graduated valedictorian of her Bushnell, Fla., High School class and attended business school in Jacksonville, Fla., prior to getting married and starting a family.

She enjoyed and excelled in accounting, working in that field many years in both Florida and Illinois. She retired from Delivery Network in Granite City, Ill., in 2000, moving shortly after to Jackson.

In addition to spending time with her family, she enjoyed playing bridge, antiquing and reading. She loved history, genealogy, dancing, word games, Sudoku and was always up for playing board games, especially Trivial Pursuit.

Loving survivors include three children, Bruce Carter Gates of Staunton, Ill., Charla (Joe) Thomas of Tampa, Fla., Ashley (Gary) Hahs of Cape Girardeau; six grandchildren, Larkin, Amber, Mariah, Rachel, Gage and Layton; a sister, Arlene Pritchett of Rossville, Ga.; a nephew, Brad (Alice) Crain of Mountain City, Tenn.; and several cousins in the central Florida area.

Although Barbara lived in the Midwest since 1971, where she remained until her death, she never forgot her Southern roots.

At her request she will be taken home to Center Hill, where Purcell Funeral Chapel of Bushnell will conduct a graveside service at 10 a.m. Saturday at Center Hill Cemetery. The Rev. Warren Bennett will officiate.

Local arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Southeast Hospice in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.