Coral Gates was born in October 1925, on a depression-era farm outside Baxter Springs, MO.  Both parents passes away before her second birthday, but then fate smiled upon her.  She was adopted by a couple in Atchison, KS where she was to grow up.   In 1942 our national focus was World War II and Coral moved to San Diego.  She took a job as a electric street car operator.  Then in 1943 she relocated to Kansas City where she was hired for the war effort.  She learned to assemble and rivet B-25 Mitchell bombers in the Fairfax area of KCK.  Later she moved with her parents to Concordia, KS.  She worked as a switchboard operator at POW Camp Concordia—a German prisoner of war camp run by the U.S Army until May, 1945. When the war ended the camp was turned into a community recreational facility.  The POW mess building was converted into a dance hallwhere Big-Band era swing dances were held.
In the summer of 1948 a returning serviceman, Milford Gates, asked Coral to dance with him and soon a romance blossomed. On December 2, 1950 Coral and Milford were pronounced Man and Wife.  During that decade the couple had lived in different small communities to accommodate Milford’s work.  By 1959 they had produced a family with 3 children—Rick, Candee, and Rod.  Coral always enjoyed learning new skills.  At the time she was one of the few women that had children and worked outside the home. Coral and Milford came to Kansas City and found roots.  Her 4th child, Teri, was born in Independence, MO and then the 5th & 6th—Ron and Carmen were given life in Kansas City, KS. Coral and Milford enjoyed swimming, so they encouraged her kids to swim and exercise with them at the local YMCA.   Soon she was employed as the aquatics training instructor with the YMCA staff.  Her children had priority in Coral’s life, so she also worked as a school crossing guard where her children attended classes.  As the children grew up and left home, Coral and Milford relished in retirement.  The couple travelled to Europe, the Middle East, and all across ourUnited States.  They decided to move to the Raytown area and made it home. She became involved with a local churchin Raytown.  Coral joined the church and its choir.  She enjoyed singing with its members and loved her many friends there.  She had several surprising talents.  She was an artist who loved to paint.  In younger years she played the organ, she swam, water skied, ballroom danced, roller skated and ice skated, and camped.  In March 2002 tragedy struck when her beloved husband Milford was killed in an accident at their home.  She now lives with him again.  

During her time on earth, Coral loved her family and friends dearly.  She gave each of them a part of her that lives on.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00a.m. Monday, October 19, 2020 at the Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia Street, Lenexa, Kansas.