Mrs. Marion Louise "Newby" Gates, age 65, of Bedford, quietly departed to go be with the Lord at her home on December 18th, 2016. She was born on February 8th 1951, in Detroit, Michigan, daughter of the late Mattie Bell Lowry and Clarence Lee Johnson. She attended Susie Gibson High School in Bedford, Virginia.

Marion was married to Thomas Gates, Sr. and had four beautiful children. She was a member of the Olive Branch Baptist Church in Bedford under the direction and care of Rev Alvin Smith, where she served as an usher and a member of the hospitality committee.

She worked at Rubatex and Sam Moore where she retired from the position of Supervisor after 40 years of dedicated service to spend time with her grandchildren. She decided to go back to work in 2016 to work for Bedford County Public Schools as a bus aide.

Marion was a devoted friend to many and was affectionately called her by the name of "Newby". In her spare time if she wasn't chasing her grandchildren, she was working on upholstery or working on her beautiful pond outside of her home.. She was always only one call away for any friend or family member no matter what time of day.

Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her four children, Angelia Newby of Bedford, VA, Jasmine Jones (Marcus) of Franklin County, VA, Thomas Gates, Jr. (Kelly) of Fredericksburg, VA, and Michelle Sorenson of Fort Worth, TX; seven lovely grand-children, four great-grandchildren, and a host of relatives and special friends.