SEWARD — Ellen Elizabeth Gates, 92, died at her home on Jan. 13, 2014 after a full life and a brief illness.
She was born at her great-grandfather’s home near Plainville on July 18, 1921, the daughter of Jimmie and Inez Keas Wilson. Elizabeth worked as a telephone operator in Salina before marrying Ben Plummer, who was killed in an industrial accident in 1947. She married Lee DeWeese in 1952; he died in 1976. She worked as a night registrar at Central Kansas Medical Center and as a bookkeeper at Great Bend Industries. In 1982, she married Gayle Gates and with him built a modern house on his family farm near Seward, where she continued to reside after his death in 2008.  
After retirement, she and Gayle spent several winters in Arizona, attended his Navy reunions, and enjoyed extensive travels.  
Elizabeth belonged to the St. Francis Xavier Altar Society and loved sewing, gardening, shopping, and playing bridge.  
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Robert Wilson, and husbands Ben Plummer, Lee DeWeese, and Gayle Gates. She is survived by her children Mitty Plummer (Annie) of Denton, Texas, Jimmy Plummer (Kathy) of Hutchinson, Susan DeWeese of Larned, John DeWeese (Leslie) of Great Bend, and LeAnn Bethel (Chris) of Gilbert, Ariz., as well as seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and four great-great-granddaughters.
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Jan. 24, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Seward, with Fr. Rene Guesnier officiating. Burial will follow at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday at Minnis Chapel in St. John. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Hospice or Heifer International both in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Minnis Chapel**
P.O. Box 34
St. John, KS, 67576
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Jan. 16, 2014