Joy Diane Gates

Joy Diane Gates, beloved wife of Jay Gates, mother of William Fresques, and adopted daughter of William and Lillian Stein. An original Colorado native when she was born at Mercy Hospital in Denver on September 4th, 1946, a date none of her friends and family will ever forget. She was 66 years old.

Joy lived with her parents and lived all over east Denver and graduated from George Washington HS. She wanted to go on and study art but her parents felt that she needed to study something far more important (in their minds) than to be an artist so she went to Berkley, California and briefly studied archeology. As a Berkley student she studied archeology, boys and using pot. Remember, this was the 60s.

After her short academic career in California, Joy came back to Denver and went to work for Mrs. Phyllis Shulberg at Sample Shock in Cherry Creek and then with May D&F in downtown Denver where she help design window dressings for the store.

She became the mother of William at 23 and after a divorce and another marriage Joy basically raised William, her only child and love of her life, on her own through his growing years.

Joy also went to beauty school on East Colfax and eventually had her own hair salon in downtown Denver for a time. Joy was talented in so many ways. Not only did she cut hair and do store front displays, but also learned to be a bartender, sold women and men's clothing and was a damn good concierge at the Westin Hotel. She knew Denver and what was in Denver far better than any travel agent or taxi driver and always knew the needs of the customer. She met all kinds of celebrities at the hotel and they all knew her by name. Should that surprise anyone? She knew all of the theater stage hands and crew that stayed at the hotel, which stirred her love even further for the theater arts. She went on to sell clothing in Cherry Creek and then southwest Indian art and jewelry. She was a pro at what she did and loved every minute of it. If she needed a job she went after it and didn't give up until she got it.

Joy did finally go back to school and studied art at the Aurora Community College and her talent was instantly recognized as she won an art contest in her first year. She didn't paint landscapes or stills, but a collection of everything at once. You can even say it was beyond abstract. This type of art moved over into her quilting, when she decided to learn how to quilt. She has beautiful quilts and loved to make them for friend's new babies. There are boxes of cloth ready for the next quilt as we speak.

She met Jay Gates at Buckley Air Force Base or Air National Guard Base in those days and yes it was at the CAMANA Club. Jay was flying for the airline and was an officer in the Guard. Eventually they got married in 1998 but only after living with each other for several years. This former flower child of the 60's gradually became a Colonel's wife and always thought her husband was a spy but mostly working to make peace in the world. The latter was true.

Joy loved to travel and with Jay's work in the Guard, they traveled throughout Europe. She was in Slovenia on 9/11 and witnessed the flags being lowered at half mast on the castle for America. She knew how to give a toast in at least 5 different languages and always tried to say thank you in the language of the country she was in. Not knowing her biological parents and what her heritage might or could be she decided one day to be from Nova Scotia and that only makes sense, doesn't it.

Three years ago the decision was made to look for a new home. Joy had never had her own place and always lived in someone else's house or an apartment. She discovered and staked her claim where she wanted her new home even before there was one house built. It was at Lowry and she loved it for the beautiful sunsets over the mountains and would drive by every night after work to look at her hill of dirt and watch the sunset. One cannot even imagine the happiness and joy she felt when the house was finally finished and was ready to be a home. Bats now protect the front porch and a new gargoyle will protect the garage real soon. It took a while but that house turned into the most beautiful home anyone could ever want and it was all hers.

Joy was never afraid of flying and may have had some apprehension but seemed always happy to go fly and always said she wanted to keep going after the landing. Between a son who flew and her husband, Joy was their copilot on many flights. She loved the views and especially the clouds, but never wanted to touch the controls. She was always happy in the front seat or back seat as long as she had a window and she fell in love with her son's Husky, and Jay's Cessna 310 and Citabria. She could have been a good pilot if she wanted to be.

Gardening was her life. The house was a virtual rain forest or nursery. Last year was her very first attempt at vegetable garden and it was a huge success. Her garden is twice as good this year and should be very bountiful. She planted a pear tree and a peach tree which each bared fruit for the first time last year. (3 pears and 9 peaches) Her aspen trees have never looked better, and everyone in the neighborhood knows about her cornstalk.

She loved her animals and they loved her. She brought Merlin home in a box and adopted Captain Jack off the street. Her fish tank holds Eureka, George and Gracie as well as the blue man group.

All of us at home will miss her. We love you Joy.

In lieu of flowers, donations in "memory of Joy Gates" can be made to:

Denver Art Museum
c/o Development Department
100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy.
Denver, CO 80204
or by calling 720.913.0031.

Denver Zoological Foundation
c/o Development Department
2300 Steele St.
Denver, CO 80205

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