James Roy Gates

James Roy Gates, Jr, 89, of Fort Smith, passed away March 5, 2015 in Fort Smith. He was born July 4, 1925 in Hope, Ark. to James Roy Gates, Sr and Estelle Bryan Gates. Mr. Gates was a life-time member of First Baptist Church of Fort Smith. He was a loving husband for 65 years, a proud father, and grandfather. A veteran of WW II, he was honored to serve in the Marine Corps in the Pacific Theater. He started his career as an engineer in the radio and television industry, briefly at KFWC in Hot Springs, before moving to Fort Smith in 1950, working with KWHN and KFSA radio. Mr. Gates then joined Don Reynolds at KFSA, Channel 22 television in 1953 until he personally shut down the station for the final time on Aug. 16, 1958. He was significantly influential in the decision made by Pastor J. Harold Smith to start the first telecast from the Fort Smith First Baptist Church in July of 1953, making it one of the longest running live telecasts in the country to this day. In 1960, he moved his family to Fort Worth, Texas, joining KTVT, Channel 11 before returning to Fort Smith and making a long lasting career change to the National Weather Service, where he retired in 1986 to pursue his life-long passion of painting, which he began in 1960. Mr. Gates is survived by his son, David, and wife Essie Gates of Alma; a daughter, Jayne, and husband John Alford of Fort Smith; four grandchildren, Cassandra Alford of Houston, Texas, Zach Gates of Nashville, Tenn., Jane Anne Meggs and husband Max of University Park, Texas, and Zoe Gibson and husband Adrian of Frisco, Texas; and great-grandchild, Stella Gibson, of Frisco, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Helen Gates; a sister, Helen Meredith Dooley; and a brother, Ronald Vincent Gates. Graveside service will be Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 2 p.m. in the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Fort Smith Museum of History "On the Air Broadcast Exhibit", 320 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, Ark. 72901. To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.