GATES: After a brief battle with ALS, Richard Allan Gates passed away peacefully, at his residence, with his family by his side, on Thursday, April 5, 2007. Rick was born on May 20, 1948, the youngest son of Doris and Alex Gates. Rick grew up in many small towns where his father worked for the railway. When Rick was a young teenager his father Alex took a permanent job with the railway and the family settled in Carberry. At school, Rick excelled in sports. He was a member of the football and curling teams. Rick's true passion was baseball and at age 16, he played with the men's team. Upon completion of high school Rick attended ACC and received his barbering certificate. Rick worked as a barber at CFB Portage. He soon decided that barbering was not for him and moved to Brandon. Rick worked a variety of jobs: delivery driver, clerk at Woolco, the woollen mills, Canada Post, the Keystone Motor Inn and other various jobs. All the while, Rick made time for curling, baseball and even a little volleyball and broomball. When Rick worked at Woolco he met and married Sherri Balkwell and together they had three children. Rick married Colleen Westphal in 1983 and together they had one daughter. Rick accepted his diagnosis of ALS in his usual quiet way. He never complained or looked for sympathy he just kept doing the things he loved to do. The week before his death, Rick was still playing cards with his siblings and was looking forward to the men's curling championship on TV. Rick wanted people to remember him as a good husband, father, brother and friends. In his own quiet way he touched the lives of many people. Rick's request was to have his family and friends drink a toast to all the good times they shared together. Rick was predeceased by his father Alex Gates; mother Doris Gates; sister-in-law Peg Gates and nephew Danny Lang. He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife of twenty four years, Colleen; children Paul, Scott (Kerri), Sandy, and Melissa (Roger); four grandsons: Steven, Andrew, Jacob and Chase. Rick is also survived by his siblings Lorna Lang, Don (Joan) Gates, Jim Gates, Carol (Hugh) King, and Bill (Linda) Gates as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends. The Ceremony to Celebrate Rick's Life will be held at Memories Chapel, 330-18th Street North on Wednesday, April 11, 1007 at 2:00 pm. Rev. Paul Sakasov of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church will officiate. Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations in memory of Rick may be made to ALS Society of Manitoba, N.108 North Pavilion, Deer Lodge Centre, 2109 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3J 0L3. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements are with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 727-0330.

"The game is over, the victory won, and now there is rest for our valiant one"Memorials
ALS Society of Manitoba