Janas Mae (Fisher) Gates, of Newport, Arkansas, departed this life on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the age of 79. She was born on May 30, 1946, the daughter of Ralph, Sr. and Agnes (Rutledge) Fisher.
Mrs. Gates was a 1965 graduate of Tuckerman High School. She married the love of her life, Mr. Bobby Gates, on September 9, 1966, sharing fifty-nine wonderful years together. Mrs. Gates worked as the Cafeteria Manager at Castleberry Elementary School. She also enjoyed working at the Gizmo Shop for her sister-in-law, Wilma Evans. Mrs. Gates was a devoted member of Holden Avenue Church of Christ and faithfully served on various church committees.
Mrs. Gates enjoyed cooking and reading. She loved spending her time making arrangements and corsages for the church and shopping with her sisters. Mrs. Gates’ greatest joy in life was her family, especially her granddaughter, Ava May. She enjoyed making memories at their large family reunions that were held on a regular occurrence through the years. She loved and cared for her family with her whole heart, and if you were fortunate enough to be loved by her, you knew it and felt it every day.
Mrs. Gates is preceded in death by one infant daughter, Kelly Lynn; her brothers, Harold Dean Fisher, Ralph Fisher, Jr., Hugh Fisher, Marcus Fisher, David Fisher, and Jerol Fisher; three sisters, Jetta Fisher, Latricia “Lue” Lucas, and Pauline Sutherland; and her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Bobby Gates, of the home; a son, Jason Gates and wife, Lacy, of Newport; daughter, Jan Gates Walker and husband, Jason, of Newport; two sisters, Delois Honey of Newport and Sue Wright and husband, Frank, of Quitman; one granddaughter, Ava May Gates, of Newport; many special nieces and nephews; special friends of the family, Kasey, Zane, and Lindley Gehring; and a lifetime of friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Gates will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2026, at Jackson’s Funeral Home Chapel, with Mr. Ryan Wilson officiating and Mr. Justin Rutledge speaking. Interment will follow in Watson Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Monday afternoon, beginning at 12:30 p.m. until service time.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Bryan Fisher, Alan Fisher, Jonathan Fisher, Brent Hite, Jason Walker, and Zane Gehring. Honorary pallbearers are Allison Swanson and the staff of Newport Family Practice.
The Gates Family would like to extend a special thank you to the NEA Baptist ICU caregivers.
Arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home.
