Johnnie Lee Gates

Johnnie Lee Gates passed away on Friday, June 28, 2024, in Prairieville, Louisiana, at the age of 90. He was born on Wednesday, January 3, 1934, to the late Lucy Floy Herring and the late Ira Royce Gates. He was a resident of Prairieville, Louisiana.

Johnnie worked for IMC/Freeport as a mechanical maintenance supervisor for most of his life. He was a mechanical genius, his engineering design and creations leaving his mark before he retired at the age of 54. After retirement, his love for mechanical design and creation continued. He and his wife, Joyce, would often go to the racetrack. There, he would drag race his prized 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner, which won him many trophies. Johnnie loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, especially their time at family dinners. He also loved his cat, Sasha.

Johnnie is survived by his wife, Joyce Willine Hamlin Gates; children, Vickie Gates Hebert(Steve), Sherry Gates Fletcher, and Alan Dale Gates(Wanda); grandchildren, Justin Dale Gates(Brittany), Kristen Fletcher Krol(Justin), Zachary Wayne Gates(Olivia), and Trent Michael Hebert(Alexis); great-grandchildren, Bryson Karter Gates, Weston James Krol and Alyssa Lee Krol; and siblings, Colleen Engel Brown, Carol Gates, and LaVan Gates.

In addition to his parents, Johnnie is also preceded in death by his grandparents, John Gates and Margarette Gates; and his brother, Royce "Bud" Gates.

Services for Johnnie will be private.