Mary E Gater

Mary Eileen (Harroff) Gater went to be with the Lord on February 4, 2022, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  She was born March 20, 1935, to Herbert Theodore and Bethel Marie (Pennington, Birchum, Foster) Harroff, in Churubusco, Indiana. She had many fond memories of working in her parents' restaurants while growing up. She graduated from Wolf Lake High School in 1953 and married David Rex Gater in 1957. They moved to Arizona in 1962 where being a homemaker was her primary occupation and working at Motorola in Phoenix and JC Penney in Casa Grande were her secondary occupations. They moved to Loon Lake, Columbia City, IN in 1980 where she enjoyed working crossword puzzles, playing cards and board games, reading, fishing, visiting with friends and family, and cooking. They moved to Sylva, NC in 2002 where they owned and managed Creekside Storage.

Mary is survived by her three children: Mrs. Steven Scott (Sharon) Holden of Sylva, NC, Dr. David Jr. (Denise) of Miami, FL; and Steven (Laura) of Columbia City, six grandchildren: Christie Thomas, Travis Holden, Brittany (John) Hutchinson, Felicia (Mike) Kreider, Katie Gater, and Danny (Catrick) Gater; four (soon to be five) great-grandchildren: Robert and Megan Dorrell, Brylea Thomas, Sofia Gater and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family members waiting for Mary were her husband and parents along with siblings: Rilla Jane (Stanley) Walter, Flora Belle (James E) Loe, Elizabeth (Ruben) Hatcher, John, Fred (Sherry), Jim, and Francis “Pee Wee” (Joan) Harroff.

A combined memorial service for Mary and David Gater will be held this spring in Columbia City.

Arrangements by DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City.

Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the online guest register.