Rowena Hay Gates of Tuscola, passed away at 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at the Tuscola Health Care Center.

Rowena was born on July 2, 1914, in Toulon, Illinois, to attorney Marion Lloyd Hay and Catherine Giles Hay. She married Gaylord Thayer Gates on July 4, 1936, who preceded her in death on August 14, 1978.

Rowena is survived by son, Markland Thayer Gates (Diane Scheuble, deceased) of Gig Harbor, Washington; daughter, Cynthia Ann Gates (John van Melle) of Roslindale, Massachusetts; grandsons Brian Gates, Kevin Gates, and Marc van Melle, and one granddaughter, Laura van Melle. Survivors also include sisters Betty Hay Brown of Kewanee, Illinois, and Beverly Hay Cheek of Oak Harbor, Washington. She is also preceded in death by daughter Julia Catherine Gates; sisters Maurine Hay Reig and Margaret Hay Vereecke; and brothers Giles Hay and Shriver Hay.

Rowena graduated from Kewanee High School and attended Eureka College from 1932 to 1935 where she studied English literature and served as editor of the college newspaper. She lived in Chicago from 1935 to 1936, working in consumer relations for Proctor and Gamble. After marrying Gaylord, she moved to Tuscola, where she was an active member of the Tuscola United Methodist Church, a member of the Douglas County Home Extension, the Jarman Hospital Auxiliary while it existed, the Tuscola Women's Club, Friends of the Library, the Douglas County Museum, and Reading Circle. She was a 4-H leader, as well as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, serving on the Green Meadow Council. She and her husband were members of the University of Illinois International Hospitality Committee.

Among Rowena's many interests were bridge, which she played until age 102, gardening (ranging from a large farm garden and orchard to a small perennial border when she retired to live in town), and the fine arts. She was an avid reader of eclectic tastes, checking out a book from the library every week or so, even to the end of her life. She had a keen appreciation of nature and was able to identify numerous tree and bird species; most recently, she was involved with monarch butterfly conservation efforts. A resident of Jarman Center Senior Living since 2012, she regularly played Scrabble and enjoyed socializing with her friends.

Visitation will take place at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 705 South Main Street, Tuscola, on Thursday, September 28, 2017, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 p.m. and funeral services will be held at the Tuscola United Methodist Church, 901 N. Prairie Street, Tuscola, Illinois, on Friday, September 29, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. with interment following at Nelson Chapel Cemetery, County Road 000 N, Tuscola Township.

Memorials are suggested to the Tuscola United Methodist Church, Tuscola Public Library, Marilyn Rose Monarch Butterfly Fund or Lincolnland Hospice.

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