Dixie Lee Gates, 84, of Douds, IA passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2024, at the Keosauqua Health Care Center. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 15, 2024, at the Zion Bible Church near Douds with Pastor Phil Ross officiating. Burial will be held in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery immediately following the service. A visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Keosauqua with the family present to greet friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions in Dixie’s honor may be directed to EveryStep Hospice or to the Douds Field Days. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Dixie Lee Gates was born on December 5, 1939, at home, the daughter of Kenneth and Ruby Nedrow Knecht. She attended school in Douds and graduated with the Douds High School Class of 1958. Dixie married the love of her life, Duane Gates on September 5, 1959 at the Zion Lutheran Church. This began a journey together that lasted over 60 years until Duane death in 2020. Together they became the loving parents of four children: Diana, Debbie, Randy, and Teresa. Dixie worked at Universal until the birth of Diana when she became a full-time mother and housewife. She cherished her time at home raising her children and continued her work as a gifted seamstress. She always took time to be her children’s biggest fan at any of their events. As the children got older, she began working outside the home again, spending a fall working for Pioneer before taking a position at Barker Wire. She would work there until her health would no longer allow. As she transitioned back to being at home, she again filled the house with the sounds of children as she ran an in-home daycare. When she had time to herself, she enjoyed quilting and was a member of the Ladies Aid Community Group. She was an avid supporter of Douds Field Day and the community that she always called home. She will be deeply missed by her family and the many friends she made along the way.
Dixie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Duane (d. 2020) and two sisters, Doris Kisling and Donna Taube.
Left to share her story are her children; Diana (Jamie) Williams of Ottumwa, IA, Debbie Gates of Winnemucca, NV, Randy (Elizabeth) Gates of Douds, IA, and Teresa (Brent) Burkhalter of Keosauqua, IA; four grandchildren, Sky Armstrong, Kenny Burkhalter, Cullin Gates, and Colton Gates; two step grandchildren, Adam and Michael Burkhalter; five great grandchildren, two step great grandchildren, as well as many extended family and friends.
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