Remembering the Last Gates Brother

James Franklin Gates – a Tribute

              James Franklin Gates was born on January 28, 1931, to Edmund Gates, Sr. and Mamie Irene Tripp Gates. My father, Edmund Gates, Jr., who was eleven years old at Little Jimmy’s birth, said William Herbert Gates, who was the baby at that time, took one look at the new baby with his mother and headed to the bunk house to begin sleeping with the big boys, Edmund, Jr., Fredrick, and Jess. Dad recalls my grandmother admonishing them, since little Herbie was only two and half years old, “Don’t you big boys roll over and smother little Herbert.”

William Herbert and James Franklin
Gates - from the collection of Lou
Dixon Gates and Jeannie Spurgeon
Gates.

            Soon, despite their rocky beginning, Herb and Jim bonded to the point that seldom were their names spoken separately. Those two boys hunted together until Herb’s hearing and health ended those exciting late night events. The two of them doubled the fun but also doubled the orneriness that they could get involved in doing. Dad mentioned acting “dumb” when his father asked him about the family truck having very little gas indicating it had been used the night before when all the time Edmund, Sr. had the key in his possession. Grandpa was an expert at driving a team and wagon but knew little about hot-wiring a pickup!

           My grandparents lived most of their 54 years of marriage on the Arkansas River on the west side of the Big Bend Community west of Ralston. Their children, especially their sons learned to love the river, primarily by hiking to the riverbank of their 95-acre farm located in Osage County in Oklahoma. Edmund Gates, Sr. taught his children from an early age to respect the river. He helped them learn the river was always more powerful than they were, and they must think any time they were near it or in it. When the boys became responsible enough to be trusted to go to the river unaccompanied by a parent, my grandmother, Mamie, said she always began counting heads as soon as she could see them emerging from the river bottom. She didn’t like the river but preferred the fishing in placid ponds.

The first summer in Jim’s memory was the summer of 1933, Dad age 14, and his brothers - Fredrick age 12 , Jess age 10, and Herbert age 5 were headed out on one of the most exciting outings possible on the farm in the summer – a trek to the Arkansas River for wading, swimming, and just on all-out good time. Little Jimmy, as they referred to their baby brother, began begging his mother to go with the big boys. Grandma, who feared the river more than respected it, was adamant that Little Jimmy was far too young to go to the river, but my father intervened for his baby brother, “Mom, let Little Jimmy go. I’ll look after him.” Evidently, Dad, the oldest living son, had shouldered much responsibility at a young age, having by this time four younger brothers, two older sisters, and a younger sister. He must have proven his trustworthiness to his mother over the years because she surprisingly agreed to let Little Jimmy go with the big boys.

                It is important to know my father looked little two-year-old Jimmy in the eye and with a tone exuding seriousness and sincerity, said, “Jimmy, you better do what I say, or you’ll never get to go to the river again with us.” Edmund grabbed his hand, and Jimmy walked with his big brothers to the river bottom.

                Upon arrival at the river, Dad found a safe, little pool so Jimmy could splash and play in the water. My father reiterated again, “Jimmy, stay right here and play. If you move, you’ll never come to the river with us again.” Little Jimmy obeyed perfectly. That was one of many fun-filled trips made by the brothers to the river bottom.

                One of the grade school principals under whom I taught thought my father would have only needed a couple of weeks to shape up some of the students’ behavior. Based on this family story, Dad learned to be an effective disciplinarian early in his life. Uncle Jim learned early what he needed to do to spend time having fun with his brothers.

                I am still astounded that a 14-year-old was willing to take on the responsibility for a little one as well as successfully get the two-year-old safely home. Even as a teen-ager, my father worked seven days a week rarely getting time off to do activities like going to the river, yet was so unselfish and thoughtful of the wishes of his baby brother. 
               How amazing that a little two-year-old was already so well trained that he could comprehend what was being expected of him by his mother and oldest brother and then even more unbelievable that he had the self-control to do it! They just don’t make them like these two anymore!

                My plan for this week had been to post the above stories about Uncle Jim in honor of his 85^th birthday that was to be celebrated on January 28^th. This was not to be. He passed from this life on Wednesday, January 18^th.

During his long battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, I never recall a complaint or the question, “Why me?” come from his lips. When I would visit with him and Lou, he always mustered a smile, usually recounted a humorous family story, and even as he weakened, at least a funny statement or two.

Lou and Jim Gates at my parents' 60th
Wedding Anniversary - photograph by
Catherine Marie Gates LeForce.

                Upon hearing of his death, I vividly remembered my last visit and his last words to me. He said, “Bernadean, come and see me" and then he paused and emphatically said, "Soon.”

As I reflected on his final words, I recalled Lou and Jim's account of a turning point in their young lives as newlyweds in January of 1954, over 60 years ago. Lou said that they knew people from the Big Bend Baptist Church were praying for them. The pastor, Ray T. Hart, and Jess Dittmar came to visit them. The two men took their Bibles and showed Jim and Lou the way of salvation to be assured of a place in heaven. While Bro. Hart talked with Jim, Bro. Dittmar explained to Lou that a person must believe that Jesus is God's Son and came to earth to die for her sins but rose from the dead. He turned to Romans 10:9-10 which says, If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

That January day, both confessed Jesus as Lord, asking Him to forgive their sins, and committed their lives to follow Him. 

                In John 14:2-3, Jesus gave comfort and encouragement to those who have done just as Lou and Jim did in 1954, In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

                Then I thought of the moment that Uncle Jim took his final breath. The verse God inspired Paul to write of the apostle’s preference in II Corinthians 5:8 clearly explains that a believer in Jesus is with Him immediately at death. The verse states, We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (KJV)

                Back to Uncle Jim’s final good-bye to me - as I view it now -  it was an invitation to reunite with him in heaven – soon. This may be in death since the psalmist described the brevity of a human’s life, even a young life, in Psalm 102:11, My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. (NIV)

                A second way to see Jim again will be when Jesus comes back for His own. Jesus promised to return to earth for those who have their trust in Him. James reiterated this in James 5:8, You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near. (Amp)

                I think Uncle Jim’s last words to me are what he would say to all our family and his friends. Let us ready our hearts to be meet him again someday. The prophet, Amos, admonished the people of his day …Prepare to meet your God. (KJV)

                As I listened to Lou visit with the pastor in preparation for Jim’s funeral, I heard her say that one of their favorite verses was John 3:16, called by some “the gospel in a nutshell.” One of the best legacies we could carry on in Uncle Jim’s honor and memory would be to embrace John 3:16 with our hearts and lives, making his favorite verse ours, too.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.