Elnora Jean Gates

On December 5, 2009, Elnora Jean Gates of Baltimore. Beloved wife of 48 years to Dean M. Gates; Devoted mother of Kathleen A. Reed of Arbutus, Gwen E. Peterson of Halethorpe, Jennifer A. Dulaney of Virginia and James C. Gates of Wyoming; Caring sister of Don Strain on Indiana, Doris Dickens of Florida, Lois McKinney of Indiana, Ray Strain of Indiana, Richard Strain of Indiana and Carol Butts of Indiana; Loving niece of Grace Bayer, also of Indiana; Cherished grandmother of Rachel, Joey and Joshua Peterson and Mark and Mary Dulaney. Born in Indiana on May 9, 1930, Jean graduated from Indiana State and went on to receive her Masters in Education.  While at Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Jean taught kindergarten. She has lived in Baltimore since 1966.  Jean retired from the Longfellow Preschool in Columbia where she had taught for 15 years.  She had a love of teaching children, whether it was preschool, kindergarten or bible school at church.  Jean had belonged to the Halethorpe Community Church, the Fellowship Baptist Church and most recently was a member of the Temple Baptist Church.  She was always very active in her church through different ministries such as the choir and Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.  Jean played the piano and loved music and singing.