SIKESTON - Leon Gates, 46, died June 8, 2005 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau resulting from an automobile accident.
Born Sept. 11, 1958, in Hayti, son of Joe Gates of Howardville and Lula Mae Owens of Sikeston, he was a graduate of the class of 1978 of Matthews High School. A groundskeeper at Memorial Park Cemetery, he was a member of the U.S. Marines and received an honorable discharge.
Survivors in addition to his parents include: three brothers, Tony Gates, Samuel Owens and Jody Owens of Sikeston; and three sisters, Shakaya Owens, Leah Owens and Twandalaya "Tiny" Owens of Sikeston.
Visitation will be at 11 a.m. Friday until the funeral hour at noon at Westend Baptist Church in Sikeston. The Rev. Ronald Williams, pastor of New Deliverance Missionary Baptist Church of Sikeston, will officiate.
Burial with full military grave side rites will follow at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Williams Funeral Homes in Sikeston is in charge of arrangements.