Marilyn Joice "Joice" Gates, age 87, of Celina, passed away Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Briarwood Village in Coldwater.

She was born December 24, 1935, in Rockford, to the late Rollie Russell & Elsie Viola (Draper) Schmidt. Joice and Theodore "Ted" Gates were married March 29, 1953. They had celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary before Ted passed away on May 5, 2016.

She is survived by their sons: Rick (Linda) Gates and Kim Gates, and a daughter, Vickie (Roger) Black, all of Celina, 15 grandchildren: April, Brandi, Brian, Jason, Nathan, Jessica, Amanda, Matthew, Joshua, Tosha, Kyle, Tiffany, Teddy, Shelby, and Makayla, 36 great-grandchildren, a brother, Robert Schmidt, and a special niece and nephew: Paula (Mark) Ybarra and Kevin Walls.

Joice was preceded in death by sons: Michael Gates in 1994 and Danny Gates in 2017, daughter-in-law, Nicla Gates, a brother, Bill Schmidt, sisters: Bonnie Walls and Eva Lou Burd, and granddaughters: Melissa Ann Gates and Teka Nichole McDowell.

She was a Homemaker, and a member of Celina Church of the Nazarene. Joice loved going out to eat and attending auctions. She liked antiques, and collected Depression Glassware, and also had a collection of Longaberger Baskets. Years ago, Joice's family had raised horses, and she enjoyed watching the horses, and attending horse auctions.

Graveside Rites will be held at North Grove Cemetery in Celina, with Pastor Chris Riffle presiding.

A Celebration of Life will follow. The date and time of the Services is pending.

Memorial Contributions may be made to EverHeart Hospice.

Condolences can be expressed to the Gates family at dickandsonshellwarthfh.com.