Elizabeth Ann "Beth" Gates

GATES (Eby), Elizabeth Ann (Beth) age 79, a 25 year resident of Surprise, Arizona, and previously a longtime resident of West Alexandria, Ohio, passed suddenly from this earth to eternal life with her risen Savior Jesus Christ the morning of September 28, 2025 – the day of her 62nd Wedding Anniversary. Beth (Eby) Gates was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on October 3, 1945. She was the youngest of five children to Vernie L. and Ruth Helen (Pottenger) Eby. Her family left New Jersey and came back to West Alexandria where she was raised and met her high school sweetheart, Jim Gates. They were married on September 28, 1963, had three sons, Scott, James, and Matthew, and in 1999 moved to Surprise, AZ. Beth loved her family, her church family, and all animals, especially dogs as she rescued many. She is survived by her husband, James Alexander Gates; sons Scott Alan Gates, James Andrew (Shelley) Gates, and Matthew Alexander (Alison) Gates; Five Grandchildren, Adelee, Gentry, Payton, Marin and Avery; Six Great-Grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Nancy (Bob) Buckingham, Neva Jo (Larry) Moses and Ruth Helen Cohee, and her brother, John "Jack" V. Eby. Visitation will be on Monday, December 29, 2025 from 1:30 pm until the time of the memorial service at 2:00 pm at the Gard Funeral Home, 67 West Dayton St., West Alexandria, OH 45381. A short graveside service will be held at the Fairview Cemetery in West Alexandria. All family and friends are invited to gather afterwards for a meal and memories at a family member’s home – to be announced at the service. Online condolences and other remembrances may be sent to the family by visiting www.gardfuneralhome.com.