of Clinton, AR
July 23, 1933 - March 7, 2021
Geneva (Keeling) Gates, 87, of Plant passed away on March 7, 2021. Geneva, also known as ''Bea'', was born July 23, 1933 in Santa Fe, Tennessee, to the late Roy and Eula Mae (Hunt) Keeling.
They moved to Botkinburg, Arkansas when Geneva was a child. Upon her marriage to Hollis M. Gates, Jr. on January 9, 1954, she made the Plant Community her home for the remainder of her life. Geneva was baptized on December 12, 1965 and joined her family in membership at Red Hill Missionary Baptist Church which later became Botkinburg Baptist Church. There, she served in a number of roles from Sunday school teacher to treasurer and trustee until recent years when her health declined.
Geneva graduated from Clinton Vocational Training School in 1952 and shared a special bond with her classmates, looking forward to attending every alumni reunion. Geneva and her husband, Junior, and her son, Lee Roy, spent many years involved in gardening, farming, and activities and leadership in the Plant Community 4-H Club and the Van Buren County Fair. She also served as the official cooperative weather observer for Botkinburg and was presented with numerous awards from the United States Department of Commerce for her dedicated service for over 40 years.
Geneva was greeted in heaven by her parents, her husband, an infant son, a great-grandchild, as well as her son, Lee Gates, also of Plant. A devoted mother, Geneva left her earthly home for her heavenly home just three days after his passing on March 4, 2021. She is further preceded in death by her sisters, Nancy and Hazel, as well as her brother, Arvel.
Left to cherish Geneva's memory are her daughter-in-law, Teresa (Cox) Gates, three grandchildren; Jason, April and Abby Gates and two great-grandchildren; Jordyn Bates and Rylan Gates. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews.
Services will be graveside at 10 am, Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at Plant Cemetery with Lannie Younger officiating. Pallbearers are Jason Gates, Ralph Galvan, Major Jenkins, Roy Isaac Keeling, Tom Prout, and Dan Prout.
To express condolences online visit www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/clinton
Arrangements are entrusted to Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Clinton, Arkansas.
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11 Condolence(s)
Terry McKinney
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Aunt Bea I love and miss you so much. I know you are not suffering. You are happy with Uncle Jr. and Bea. God bless you. You are my absolute favorite aunt. RIP Aunt Bea.
Mabel Lee Isom Kelly
Monday, March 29, 2021
A wonderful lady who shared with so many the love of Christ bythe life she lived.
Faye rodgers
Friday, March 12, 2021
May God bless you all. 🥲😇
Karen Barnett
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
I'm going miss my friend, such a sweet person to visit with . Prayers with the family left behind. God bless each of you
Sherry McCaslin
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
So sorry for your family loss. Thoughts and prayers with you
Marilee Maliszewski
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Geneva Hollis and Lee's memories will always be a blessing for me. Lovely solid people.
RIP
Liz Bramlett
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
I LOVE YOU AUNT SHEBBIE!
Dee Roberts
Monday, March 8, 2021
I will really miss Geneva. We shared phone conversations, gardening & stories of the past. Gardening is how I met Junior & Geneva about 25 years ago. Junior advertised okra for sale on Trading Post. I was first to call & told him I would take all 10# he had. Our friendship grew from that.
Candyce Skolnick Weber
Monday, March 8, 2021
I am truly sad in so many ways. Not enough words to describe how much I am grieving from the loss of my Aunt Geneva. I spent many happy hours as a child visiting. She always was sure to prepare my favorite meal of chicken and dumplings. I am sure she is in peace and better health as she meets her maker. God bless everyone and my prayers are with you all.
Holly Joers
Monday, March 8, 2021
I met Mrs. Geneva through a friend who used to live in the neighborhood and would send me on errands to deliver fruit, etc. to her. So we became friends and I visited her regularly since we moved here in 2006, shortly before her husband passed away. I loved to visit her, because she rarely complained though she had many physical challenges. She was interested in people, and kept up with many old friends via her telephone and their visits. I loved walking over to see her, and visiting while her cat Molly snuggled in my lap. We always found lots to talk about and I learned a lot about the old days and old ways from her stories.
I knew she loved Jesus and we enjoyed talking of the Bible and reading it and praying together. She was ready to rest until Jesus comes. I will miss her tremendously.
Helena Brown
Monday, March 8, 2021
So sorry to hear of the loss of your mother in law.. May God provide you with comfort and peace that only he can provide. God bless you and your family.