Billy Joe "Bill" Gates Sr.

Services for Billy Joe Bill Gates Sr. of Clovis, New Mexico will be held Tuesday, July 22, 2014, at Steed Todd Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Mission Garden of Memories. The family will be at Steed Todd on Monday, July 21, 2014, from 6-8 p.m.
Billy Joe Gates Sr (Bill), 79, was born February 24, 1935, to Marshall P. and Carrie E. Moss Gates near Weatherford, Texas. He died July 18, 2014, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, New Mexico after a lengthy illness. He attended school in many places in New Mexico and Texas as his family moved a lot. After being drafted he served in the Army and the United States Army Reserve until he was Honorably Discharged in 1963. He drove all kinds of trucks for several years. He was a Clovis fire fighter (a job he loved) for over 29 years. Bill was a master woodworker owning G&G Furniture Repair for many years.
Bill married Joyce Elfers December 22, 1963. They have two children, Billy Joe Jr. called BJ and Lisa Ann.
Bill loved fishing, hunting, camping, traveling, four wheeling, his yard, his cats, showing his fully restored 1965 Mustang GT coupe, and his family, especially his granddaughters Katie and Abbie.
Bill is survived by his wife, Joyce of the home, his son BJ and wife (Karen) Gates of Bloomfield, New Mexico, his daughter Lisa Ellis and his granddaughters Katie Jane Ellis and Abbie Elaine Ellis all of Pleasant Hill, California. Also surviving is his brother Marshal P. (Enid) Gates of Carlsbad, New Mexico and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are sister-in-laws Elaine (John) Ashton of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Donileta (Bill) Hammons of Burleson, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Kathleen Halsell and Alene Glaze and his brother Leonard Russom.
Bill was funny and kept people laughing at work and around the campfire by his stories.
Pallbearers are nephews and friends Kenneth Glaze Sr., Gary Knight, James Russom, Shane Drake, Billy Skidmore, Tyler Ashton and Douglas Ford.
The family will be at 1013 Utah Street.
Arrangements are under the direction of Steed Todd Funeral Home 800 E. Manana Blvd Clovis, New Mexico (575) 763-5541. Special thanks to the staff of PRMC Home Health and Hospice especially Justine and Sylvia, the staff of Farwell Care and Rehabilitation Center and the Staff of Plains Regional Medical Center for all their loving care and compassion. The family requests in lieu of flowers donations to the Baptist Children's Home, the Light House Mission 407 Cassillas Blvd, Clovis, New Mexico 88101 or a charity of your choice.