Blanche Gates

Blanche Gates, 72, of Elkhart, died Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Elkhart General Hospital.
Blanche was born October 30, 1943 in Glendora, Mississippi to the late Senate and Mary Emma (Holmes) Suggs.

Blanche married Clarence Gates in 1961. He preceded her in death on January 22, 2003. She was also preceded in death by sisters Virginia Holmes and Barbara K. Suggs, and a brother Albert Redmond.

Blanche is survived by a son, Senate Suggs-Gates, Jr., Elkhart; nephew/son, Javaris Suggs (Sarah), whom she raised, Indianapolis; sisters, Irene Roundtree-Williams, and Lisa Lewis, both of Elkhart; brothers Senate Suggs, Jr., Elkhart, Calvin Suggs (Sherice), Chicago, Craig Holmes, Chicago, Ted Redmond (Viletter), Milwaukee, and Eugene Suggs, Indianapolis; 4 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Blanche was formerly employed as a production coordinator with Crown International. She was a member of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church. Blanche was the best mother ever. She was known to help anyone and financially invested herself in the Elkhart Community.

Services will be held at 1 pm, Monday, September 19, 2016 at Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola.

 Service Information