Elizabeth R Gates

Elizabeth Gates entered into her eternal rest on Wednesday, October 2, 2019. She was born on May 2, 1935, to her parents Robert and Edith Sharples. She attended elementary school at Holcomb in Boise, attended North Junior High, and then graduated from Boise High School. Elizabeth went on to Boise Junior College (now BSU) for two years and graduated in 1955 with an Associates of Arts. From 1960 to 1961 she volunteered for the Kennedy campaign. She moved to Miami Beach, Florida and then to Melbourne Florida where she considered herself lucky to be able to watch all of the Gemini space mission launches from the Kennedy Space Center.

She was married in 1967 to Don Gates. Together they moved from Florida to Marion, Ohio, and then back to Boise, Idaho where they lived in Hills Village. Elizabeth and her husband purchased a nametag engraving business from St. Luke’s Hospital for $1 in about 1971, after working as a nurse’s aid at St. Alphonsus Hospital. Together they grew that business and went on to have many clients like St. Luke’s, HP, and Micron with great success. In April of 1976 Elizabeth and Don welcomed their son, Donnie. On January 26, 1985 Elizabeth lost her husband Don at the age of 46. She never remarried and still wore her wedding ring until the very end.

On January 9th 2014 Elizabeth got one of the best gifts in the world. Her very first Grandchild Bobby was born. She loved Bobby so much and he meant the world to her. When Bobby would come visit she would always gets a huge smile on her face. She will always be forever in his heart.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her Mother and Father, Robert and Edith Sharples, her two brothers, Robert Sharples Jr and Dave Sharples, and her beloved husband Don Gates.

                She is survived by her sister Mary Stockley of CO, her son Don (Katie) of Kuna, Grandson Bobby Gates of Kuna, her Neice Laura (Trent) Steffler of Boise, Nephew Steve Sharples of Boise, Nephew Andy Sharples of WA, Neice Amanda Sharples of WA, and Will and Wayne Stockley of CO.