Audrey Viola Gateley, 88, died March 8, 2022, in Fayetteville. Born in Phoenix, Arizona on January 8, 1934, Audrey’s family moved to Arkansas in 1950. While attending an evening service at Immanuel Baptist Church, she met Harold Gateley, a young farm boy from Yell County. Individually, they had both felt the call to service, and together, they embarked on that task. They were married in 1953.
She and her husband, Harold, served as Southern Baptist missionaries to South Korea from 1965 to 1980. While in Korea, Audrey saw the need for placing abandoned children with prospective parents. She worked closely with Holt Adoption Services, and the Gateley family was host to numerous foster children.
Upon returning to the US, the Gateley’s worked with Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries, running an emergency shelter for children in Sherwood, AR. After completing her master’s degree in child development at the University of Arkansas, Audrey went on to serve as a social worker with the Arkansas Department of Health, until her retirement in 1997. Her work with the A-PLUS program (Adolescent Parents Learning Useful Skills) provided support for pregnant and parenting teens in need of services. She maintained a close friendship with her other retired social workers at Butterfield Trail Village.
Audrey enjoyed her last 12 years developing new relationships at the Butterfield community, playing ping pong, attending First Baptist Church, watching Razorback basketball, and visiting the family ranch in Oklahoma and her beloved horses, dogs, and cats.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Wade Temple, and Lola Cobb Temple; a sister, Florence Young; and her husband, Harold Gateley. Survivors include five children, Susan Gateley of Oark, Wade Gateley of Colorado Springs, CO, David Gateley of Van Buren, Paul Gateley of Springdale, and Vicki Sue Gateley of Witter; and 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 12:30 pm Tuesday March 15, 2022, at Beard’s Funeral Chapel in Fayetteville. Burial will follow at the Fayetteville National Cemetery at 1:30 pm. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Monday March 14 at Beard’s. There will also be a memorial reception in the Performance Hall at Butterfield Trail Village at 3 pm on Tuesday March 15, 2022.
Memorials may be made to Arkansas Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries at arkansasfamilies.org.
As E.D. of Family Network, I worked closely with Audrey when she developed A-PLUS. Her commitment & beliefs nurtured pregnant & parenting teens, some of whom were also in our program. I valued Audrey’s contributions to her community and her friendship.
Audrey was a lovely woman, both in her physical attributes and in her compassionate approach to others. She was the mother of my good neighbor, Susan Gateley, so I knew her in the context of her family. She was caring, easy going and enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She survived the death of her husband and despite that loss, she took pleasure in living and making new friends on her own. She will be greatly missed by her family who treasured her presence. Her children will keep her memory alive with many stories to share, laughter mixed with sorrow in the telling.
An amazing, loving, caring woman who will be missed for sure. My deepest sympathies to Paul and all the Gateley family.
We send sincere sympathy to the Gately family. We are close friends with Wade and Sharon. Audrey’s obituary was so inspiring. She lived her life in service to the Lord and touched so many lives with God’s love. What an example of “Well done, good and faithful servant.” -Cheryl & Tom Mork
What a great mother you had Wade! May the fond memories of her give you peace as only the Lord can give, and I pray that He will relieve the sadness of your heart.
Audrey became a dear friend to my mom while living at Butterfield Trail Village. Audrey was a kind and sweet lady! Her BTV family will miss her so very much! Our sincere condolences to family and friends.
I got to know Audrey at Butterfield, where my mom also lived. I would see her often in the dining room or in the hallways. She always asked about my mother and how she was doing. She always had an encouraging word and had such a sweet spirit about her. I am so blessed to have known her. She truly had a heart for missions and caring for others.
We just learned of Audrey’s death while visiting Grant Hall and family. He said there was a photo of Audrey with our dad, Andrew, whom she dated from 2010-2013. I enjoyed getting to know her while he preached at Elkins Community Church and I went swimming with her at Butterfield. What a gracious, kind, thoughtful lady. I was glad to learn of her helping with fostering children, and we’ll give a memorial to the Children’s Home.