Lafayette Gatewood, Jr., 72, of St. Louis, MO passed away peacefully on Friday, March 22, 2013 at St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis. Born September 24, 1940 in Memphis, TN to Lafayette and Marcell (Parham) Gatewood, he graduated from Melrose High School in Memphis (1958) and Rust College in Holly Springs, MS (1962) and worked for 30+ years as a Cartographer for the Defense Mapping Agency Aerospace Center in St. Louis, MO.
Lafayette always put family first and was a loving husband, father, step-father, grandfather, uncle, brother, cousin, and friend. He could spend hours talking and watching sports and politics but his pride and joy were his 14 grandchildren. Of the sports, football, by far, was his favorite. He played quarterback throughout high school and college and was an avid follower of both local and national football teams.
Lafayette was the loving husband of Odessa (Mitchum) Gatewood for 16 years, who preceded him in death, and of Gloria (Burgess Ross) Gatewood for 32 years. He was the proud father of Lafayette Gatewood, III (Prentiss), Dr Marena Gatewood Brown, Sandra Gatewood Love (Wesley), Jackie Gatewood McCullough (Oscar), and Alan Gatewood, Sr. (Jackie); the caring step-father of Marcie Ross Dear and Tammy Ross; and often boasted of his 14 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother (Early B. Gatewood), and his two sisters (Dorothy Gatewood and Virginia Gatewood Stewart). He is survived by the family members mentioned above and a brother (Dr. Elton Gatewood) as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.
