Funeral services for Verda Murray Gates will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at First Baptist Church of West Monroe with Dr. Woods Watson, Dr. Mark Fenn, and Michael Wood officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM at the church. Interment will be held at Kilpatrick’s Serenity Gardens. Services are under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home, West Monroe.
Verda Murray Gates was born December 31, 1941 and went to her heavenly home on her birthday, December 31, 2020, at the age of 79.
She was preceded in death by her father, Gilbert L. Murray; mother, Tressie Stuckey Murray; daughter Karla Lee Charles; son, Jimmy E. Smith; special aunt and uncle LaVonne and Kenneth Dudrey; and a half-brother Gil Murray.
Left behind to cherish her memory is her husband of 40 years, Walter J. Gates; daughter, Kathy Smith; two sons, Kim G. Smith (Gloria) and Justin L. Daniel; step-daughter, Lori G. Rios (Todd); seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Verda was a very busy person. She was involved in many different organizations.She was owner and President of Home Assistant Services Inc. She was a home health nurse, a job she dearly loved because she enjoyed helping people. She was also the director of Glenwood Home Health for several years before moving to St. Francis Specialty Hospital where she was a safety director. After retiring from St. Francis, Verda stayed busy. She was a Red Cross volunteer going to many disasters such as hurricane, tornado and flood locations. She and her husband traveled together to many of these sites to help those in need, including New York after September 11, 2001.
In addition, Verda was very involved in the Ouachita Parish Women’s Republican Club where she served as President for two years. She stayed involved and was even returning to her work providing home health at the time of her death.
Verda and her husband enjoyed traveling on mission trips to Ukraine, Mexico, Russia, and Wales and were very active in the Prayer Plus Life Group and choir at First West.
Pallbearers will be Bob Hammack, Ed Pettis, Jay Crain, Stan Harris, Trey Charles and Dave Hall.
Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Prayer Plus Life Group.
Memorials may be made to the Ouachita Parish Women’s Republican Club, 1651 Louisville Ave., Suite 10, Monroe, LA, 71201.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com
Kilpatrick Funeral Home
West Monroe, LA