Julia Gayle Meschutt Gates
Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 18, 2012
Feb. 2, 1933 – Aug. 15, 2012
NATCHEZ — Services for Julia Gayle Meschutt Gates, 79, of Natchez, who passed from this earth and into heaven on the glorious day of Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012, in the arms of her family, will be at 2 p.m. today at Washington United Methodist Church with the Rev. Reed McCaleb officiating.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time today at the church.
Refreshments will follow the service.
Mrs. Gates was born Feb. 2, 1933, in Natchez, the daughter of Ellen Rebekah Meschutt.
Some knew her as Gayle, some knew her as Julia, some knew her as grandmother, but all that knew her, loved her and knew of her passion for gardening.
Julia was a lifelong member of Washington United Methodist Church. She was a registered nurse for more than 40 years with 22 years of service at Lane Memorial Hospital in Zachary, La. She was a long-time member of the Baton Rouge Garden Club and the Floral Friends Study Group.
She was an active participant in all club activities, especially the annual flower shows. She won every top award in both design and horticulture and frequently served on the horticulture committee and as chairman of clerks.
Julia was a nationally accredited flower show judge with master status. She was also an active landscape design consultant and a Master Gardener. Additionally, she was a life member of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc. Prior to moving to Baton Rouge, she was a member and past president of the Zachary Garden Club. She attended a number of LGCF state conventions and frequently served as a page. An esteemed and honored member of the Baton Rouge Garden Club, she will be sorely missed.
Julia was preceded in death by her husband, the love of her life, Durward Royce Gates Sr.; her mother; and one sister, Ruby Ellen Meschutt.
Survivors include two daughters, Florence Irene Gates of Gonzales, La., and Rebekah Gates “Reba” Robertson and husband, Mickey, and their children, Logan Grant Robertson and Cameron Lee Robertson, all of Baton Rouge; two sons, Durward Royce Gates Jr. and wife, Mary Jane Walker Gates, and their children, William Walker Gates and Meredith Elizabeth Gates, all of Lafayette, La., and Milton Randle “Randy” Gates and wife, Wendy Whittington Gates, and their children, Leland Austin Gates and Dannie Alyssa Gates, all of Zachary, La.; one sister, Barbara Way Sellers of Natchez; and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Washington United Methodist Church.
Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.