James Franklin Gates, always known as Frank, passed away at home of natural causes at the age of 86, on Monday, January 11th, 2021.
Frank was born October 3rd, 1934 in The Hollow-Ararat, Virginia, to his parents Mathew James Gates and Carrie Victoria Boyd Gates. At a very early age, his grandma Virginia Betty McMillon Boyd raised him. Upon her death, his Uncle Bryant and Aunt Rosa Boyd, known as Mam and Pa, and their 9 children, took Frank in as one of their own.
As a teenager, Frank went to The Bronx in New York to work with his cousin, and then served in the US Air Force for 4 years. He met Dorothy (Dottie) Flinn while he was stationed at Wichita Kansas and she was in Nurses Training. Dottie was from Twin Falls, Idaho, where they married on April 10, 1959. They settled in Boise and raised 4 children: Betty, Dean, Sally and Wade. Camping was a family adventure for years. Frank had a boat and loved to fish. Frank and Dottie square danced with friends from all over the valley for many years. Frank worked as a clerk at the US Post Office and retired with 34 years of service. While working at the Post Office, he started his own business of AAA Rototilling-Gardens and Yards, and served the Boise area for over 40 years. Frank was quick to make a stranger into a friend and had lots of stories to tell. He was always fond of his 5 acre place, raising animals and was a huge gardener. He raised all kinds of vegetables, grew large cabbages and made sauerkraut. He’d always bring you some whether you needed it or not. He was loved and cared for by his family and will be greatly missed.
Frank is survived by his wife Dottie; children Betty (Craig) Fredericksen, Dean Gates, Sally Richlin, and Wade Gates; 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
In place of flowers, consider donating to your favorite charity.
Services will be on Tuesday, Jan 19th, 2021. There will be public viewing at 12:30 followed by a family service at 1:00; the procession from Bowman Funeral to Dry Creek Cemetery, Boise Idaho will leave at 1:45, with Service at Dry Creek to begin at 2:00 pm. Friends and family are welcome at the cemetery, observing social distancing. To attend the service virtually, please visit https://www.bowmanfuneral.com/livestream/ password bowmanlive
