Charles R. "Charlie" Gates

Charles R. “Charlie” Gates, age 53, died on September 23, 2013 at his home in Oxford, Mississippi. Charlie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and lived in Ruston as well as Lafayette where he attended Lafayette High School. As a high school student, Charlie became interested in playing the trumpet and dedicated himself to becoming a professional musician. Charlie completed the B.M.E. degree in instrumental music education from Louisiana State University in 1983 and the M.M. and D.M.A. degrees in trumpet performance and literature from the Ohio State University in 1985 and 1992. In 1988, Charlie joined the University of Mississippi (UM) faculty as an assistant professor in the Music Department. Charlie’s tenure at UM spanned twenty-five years, where he served in a number of roles including Director of the Academic Support Center, Faculty Fellow in the Sally McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College, and Professor and Chair of Music. Charlie was active in the International Trumpet Guild and other professional organizations. Charlie was a devoted father and husband and was loved by a large extended family and a wide circle of friends, who in turn enjoyed his engaging sense of humor and keen intellect. Charlie’s greatest joy was playing in ensembles with other musicians. His most recent affiliations were with the Meridian Symphony Orchestra (principal trumpet) and the Mississippi Brass. Charlie was an avid bicyclist and regularly enjoyed a 16-mile route throughout the rolling hills of north Mississippi near his home. He read constantly, covering a broad range of topics such as theology and science. Charlie was a member of the Oxford Church of Christ. Charlie was preceded in death by: his father, Reginald Gates; his mother, Mary Clark Gates Dorrell; and his step-father, Bill Dorrell. He is survived by: his wife of thirty years, Kathryn Fergus Gates of Oxford, MS; his daughter, Sarah Kathryn Gates of Oxford, MS; his son, William Charles Gates of Oxford, MS; and two step-brothers, B.J. Dorrell and Shane Dorrell, both of Lafayette, LA. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Friday, September 27, 2013, at the Coleman Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 28, 2013, at the Oxford Church of Christ. Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the UM Foundation, Charlie Gates Memorial Fund, The University of Mississippi Foundation, P.O. Box 249, University, MS 38677. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall of this website.