Glen Gates

The lord took his faithful servants hand and led him home on June 17, 2014.

Rex Gates was born on August 30, 1920 in Stahl, MO to Sylvester and Sasie Gates. He was raised on a farm in Green Castle, MO with 2 brothers and 2 sisters. He graduated from Green Castle High School and then served in the WWII Army Air Corp as a plane mechanic. He and his brother Max both served, and called home an hour apart saying they were returning home. Rex said that was a good day for his mother. Upon returning from the war, he took a job at the Ford garage in Kirksville, MO where he met the love of his life Louise Potter. They were married September 29, 1946. In 1954 they moved to Glenrock, Wyoming where they raised their three children, Karen Sue, June, and Glen Mark. Rex put his talents to work at many jobs in Wyoming. First was Glenrock Refinery until the closure as well as the Ford garage, Munsinger Construction and Dyer & Company at Big Muddy Oil Field. In 1964 Rex hired on with PP&L. In 1970 Rex was voted president of local 127 which he was most proud of. In later years he accepted production supervisor and retired as railroad supervisor. Rex was well respected and thought of by the many employees who worked at Glenrock Coal Company. One of Rex's favorite stories is that he took the first scraper full of dirt out of the Jim Bridger coal mine. Rex was considered one of the best scraper operators around. After retirement he was called many times as a consultant.

Rex was preceded in death by his parents, sisters; Ola, Faith, and Ila; his brothers, Max and Lloyd; his beloved wife, Louise; son-in-law, Jim Thronburg, and Great Granddaughter, Madison. He will be greatly missed by his children, Karen (Jerry) Page, June Thornburg, Mark (Kim) Gates; son in law, Chuck Price and Judy Thomas; 7 grandchildren, Lori, Angie, Coni, Rex, EyVonne, Shawn, Ashley, and 18 great grandchildren, many loving nieces and nephews.
Rex passed away in the loving care of Central Wyoming Hospice. Services will be held at the Community Baptist Church in Glenrock, Wyoming on Friday June 20, 2014 at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home on Thursday June 19, 2014 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Donations to Central Wyoming Hospice would be appreciated.