Dorothy Gates Abee

Dorothy Lee Gates Abee, 97, of Valdese, passed away peacefully on Thursday January 23, 2020 at Burke Hospice and Palliative Care following a period of declining health. Born on July 22, 1922 in Ellijay, Ga. she was the daughter of the late Andrew Franklin Gates and Tamer Sumner Gates. She was a seamstress for many years. She was a charter member of East Valdese Baptist Church, where she was a vital part of the prayer shawl ministry. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Roy Paschal Abee; and her siblings, Frances Hill, Irene Lummus, Herbert Gates, and Sam Gates. Survivors include her daughters, Ramona Duncan and husband Carl of Connelly Springs and Cherie Mabrey and husband James of Catawba, SC; her brother, Paul Gates of Ellijay, Ga.; her sister, Alice Davis and husband Larry of Ellijay, Ga. and sister-in-law Elaine Gates of Waycross, Ga.; her grandchildren, Andrea Saine and husband Danny, Donna Prince and husband Kevin, Gillian O'Neill and husband John, Alex Mabrey and wife Janice; also surviving are eight great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Tuesday January 28, 2020 at East Valdese Baptist Church, with Rev. Lee Harris, Rev. Greg Klapp, and Rev. Mike Lawhorn officiating. Interment will follow at Abee's Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 1:30-3:00 P.M. at East Valdese Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the East Valdese Baptist Church Prayer Shawl Ministry, P.O. Box 56 Valdese, NC 28690 or Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Rd. Valdese, NC 28690. An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.heritagefuneralservices.com. Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory of Valdese is serving the family.