Cyrus Gates

10/22/1927 – 06/08/2012
Cyrus Ralph Gates, 84 passed peacefully at home Friday, June 8, 2012 surrounded by his loving family. Cyrus was born October 22, 1927 to Ralph and Lilly Gates in Welcome, WA. Cyrus graduated from Bellingham High School and attended WWU. He worked as a log truck driver, a crane rigger in the naval shipyard in San Diego, a commercial fisherman early in his life and later worked in the fiberglass industry, retiring as a fiberglass inspector. He had a love for fishing and crabbing and was an avid sports enthusiast who never missed a Mariners game. Cyrus is survived by his wife of 56 years, Frances, daughter Sandra (Kevin) Dyvig and their children Melissa, Jennifer, Chris, and Sean, son Randy (Val) Gates and their children Cyrus and Brandon, daughter Laurie (Duane) Rice and their children Jason and Carrie, 11 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Laura Glen with whom he shared a special relationship with, sisters Ginny Sorenson and Loretta Dralle and many loving relatives and friends. Cyrus was respected and loved by all and he will be greatly missed. Memorials may be made to the Whatcom Hospice Foundation at www.hospicehelp.org . The family would like to thank the Hospice staff and Mick of Home Attendant Care. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 10:00am at Westford Funeral Home followed by a reception. Visitation will be Monday, June 11, 2012, 3-5:00pm at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.