Oval Gates

  Oval Gates, 84, lifelong resident of the Ripley Community and known throughout Tippah County and surrounding areas as an accomplished fiddle player, peacefully departed this life at his residence Monday, June 6, 2016 surrounded by his family. Services honoring the life of Mr. Gates will be at 3 PM Thursday, June 9 in The Heritage Chapel of Ripley Funeral Home with burial in Peoples Cemetery. Mr. Gates will be remembered for his love of music and sharing his "fiddling" at area charitable events and benefits for many years. The last original member of the Gates Band, Oval and his group provided Saturday night family entertainment for many years at the Country Junction in Ripley. A Baptist, Mr. Gates enjoyed woodworking and mechanical repairs before retiring from The Benchcraft Corporation in 1994. Visitation will be from 5 PM to 8 PM Wednesday, June 8 and will continue Thursday until service time at The Ripley Funeral Home. He is survived by his son, Rickey Gates (Barbara), 2 brothers, William "Pete" Gates (Jan) and C.B. Gates (Gladys) all of Ripley, his sister in law, Dorothy Gates of Ripley, sister in law, Janice Bates (Jeff) of Falkner, 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Jean Richardson Gates, his parents, Babe A. and Ella Glissen Gates, 3 brothers, Gene, J.C. and Bobby Gates and 2 sisters in law, Billie Gates and Dixie Gates.

The Ripley Funeral Home is honored to serve the Gates Family and invite you to sign the guestbook and share memories.