Gilda Gray Bates

Gilda Gray Bates, precious wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior on Saturday, December 20, 2014. She was born in Mount Ida, Ark. on February 25, 1929, to the late Clarence and Lula Brown Gray. She was known as Meema to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Mount Ida and served as high school secretary at Mount Ida for 32 years. She was a loyal member of the Montgomery County Nursing Home Auxiliary and served as treasurer of that organization for many years. Loved ones preceding her in death were her parents, three brothers, Harry Gray, Chitwood Gray, and Bill Gray, and one sister, Mary Gray Story. Those left to cherish her memories are her loving husband of 67 years, Charles; daughters, Becky and husband Eddie Gaston and Vicki and husband Scott Brakefield both of Mount Ida, Ark.; granddaughters, Samantha and David Watts of Little Rock, Ark., Tara and Travis Teague of Van Buren, Ark., Amy Neiman of Las Vegas, Nev., and Amanda and Toby Craver of Mount Ida, Ark.; great-grandchildren, Karlie Grayce, Carrie and Brent Craver, Taylor and Noah Teague, Logan Watts, and Barrett Neiman; two sister-in-laws, June Elder Gray of Blue Springs, Mo. and Elizabeth Gray of Muscle Shoals, Ala. and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive visitors at the home of Scott and Vicki Brakefield. You are invited to celebrate her life at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at the First Baptist Church of Mount Ida with Bros. Joe Bagwell and Steve Rogers officiating. She will be laid to rest at the Mount Ida Cemetery under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Bob Barrett, Gene Howard, Marion McKinney, Mike Samuel, L.J. Warneke, Sam Amerson. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital or the First Baptist Church of Mount Ida building fund.