GATES, Dr. May "Catherine" (MITCHELL) WILDER

MITCHELL, PRESSLEY, WILDER, GATES, EDWARDS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/14/2016 at 09:49:46

Biography ~ Dr. May "Catherine" (Mitchell) Wilder Gates
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

May "Catherine" Wilder Gates was born on September 27, 1909, in Crooks Point, Burleson County, Texas, the daughter of Charles Malcolm Heathcote "Mack" and Martha Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Pressley) Mitchell.

Catherine began pursing her higher education in the latter part of her life, finishing he B.A. in psychology from Pan American College in 1958, just after the death of her first husband [James Eugene "Gene" Wilder (1905-1958) whom she married on July 23, 1927, Houston TX]. She taught speech, Spanish and elementary subjectes at Mercedes (Texas) Public Schools from 1956 to 1963, and completed her M.Ed. from the University of Texas in 1961. Gates obtained her doctorate in 1966 from the University of Nebraska. Her dissertation was "Relationship of College Achievement to Marital Status", January 1, 1966.

She married George Davison Gates (1902-1976) on March 19, 1967, Hidalgo County, Texas.

Dr. Gates was teaching at Mankato State College when she inquired if Graceland had any openings. She joined the Graceland faculty in 1968 to teach psychology, a position she held until her retirement as professor emerita in 1975.

Dr. Gates died on October 9, 1977, in Independence, Missouri. She was interred at Ebony Grove Cemetery, Mercedes, Texas, beside her first husband. George Davison Gates was interred at Mound Grove Cemetery, Independence, Missouri, beside his first wive, Grace Ruth (Edwards) Gates (1903-1961).

SOURCES:

Goehner, David. “The Graceland College Book of Knowledge: From A To Z.” p. 407. Herald House. Independence MO. 1997.

findagrave.com

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2016

Decatur Biographies maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen