J. E. "TEX" Gates

J.E. "Tex" Gates age 86 of Rye, Ark. died Sunday, June 23rd at his ranch home in Cleveland county Arkansas. He was born September 16th, 1926 in Mason, Texas a son of the late J.E. Gates Sr. and Ruby Stark Gates. In his early years growing up in Mason, Texas he gained and formed a love for horses and cattle that followed him all of his life, he graduated high school in Comanche, Texas and moved west in the 1950's to Las Vegas, Nev. where he opened a Dude ranch know as Twin Lakes Stables. Over the span of 40 years in Las Vegas, he promoted and built Twin Lakes Stables, which provided livestock for the thriving movie industry. He served on the Clark County Sheriffs posse which helped in the recovery of plane crashes in the mountains of Nevada only accessible by horse back, he loved to cater to his friends with early morning horseback breakfast rides, which included Roy Rogers and Liberace. He served as rodeo chairman for the Elks Heldorado rodeo for 27 years in Las Vegas. He was a member of the Rotary Club and a member of the Elks Lodge for 53 years. Tex achieved a membership in the Screen Actors Guild and began making television commercials for Chesterfield Cigarette Company and Ford Motor Company advertising the Ford Mustang among others. He was a United States WWII Army veteran serving as a merchant marine in the Pacific Theater, he loved hunting, fishing and traveling and in his later life when he moved to Cleveland County, AR he started T & S Ranch with his wife Susie. Tex served on the Cleveland County Farm Bureau Board for 23 years, and was a member of the Cleveland County Cattleman's Association and a board member of the Bradley County Farmers CO/OP. He is also preceded in death by a brother, Ricky Gates and a sister, Angela Nelson. Survivors include his wife, Susie Gates who he married Nov. 4th, 1975. A son, Jerry Gates and spouse Nancy, Rye, Ark. A daughter ,Janice Hetfeld of Miami Lakes, Fla. A brother, Jack Gates and spouse Barbara, Palestine, Texas, several nieces, nephews and loving friends Marvin and Amber Runion and their children Haleigh and Harley Runion all of Rye, Ark. Funeral services 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 26th at Frazer's Chapel. Burial in Prosperity Cemetery by Frazer's Funeral Home. Visitation 6pm till 8pm Tuesday, June 25th at Frazer's. Online guestbook www.frazerfuneralhome.com.