DIXON – Richard Arthur Gates, 80, of Dixon, died Thursday, March 14, 2013, at KSB Hospital in Dixon. He farmed the family farm in Lee and Ogle counties.

Richard was born Nov. 10, 1932, in Dixon, the son of George Arthur and Lucia (McWethy) Gates. He attended Riverside School in Ogle County, and graduated from Dixon High School in 1951. He served in the Army from Jan. 16, 1953, to Jan. 14, 1955, working with the 36th Field Artillery Battalion in track vehicle maintenance. Richard married Phyllis Jean Horst on April 7, 1962, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mount Morris. He first attended and was baptized at Kingdom Evangelical United Brethren Church in Grand Detour, and later became a member and served as a trustee at Grace United Methodist Church in Dixon. Richard also served on the Lee County 4-H board, and was active in the Rock River Barbershop Chorus. His main interests were agriculture and farming. Richard was always diligent in preserving the environment while farming. His wife, children, grandchildren, and family, were very important to him, and he loved them all.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Gates of Dixon; two daughters, Michele Ann Gates and Lisa Marie Gates; two sons, Gregory Arthur (Melissa) Gates and Jeffrey Alan (Shannon) Gates; seven grandchildren, Alex, Ashton, Grace, Lauren, Megan, Lyndon and Leyton; two sisters, Marilyn (Jim) Jordan and Joan (Lynwood) Jones; and many nieces and nephews.