James Emory Gates, 59, of Alexandria, formerly of Stafford County, died Tuesday, April 22, 2008, at Inova Healthplex.
Mr. Gates had worked with the Stafford and Spotsylvania Sheriff's Offices and as a heavy equipment operator. He had been a volunteer fireman in Maryland and an EMT with the Fredericksburg Rescue Squad.
Mr. Gates was an avid fisherman and gun collector.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley B. Gates; four children, Cynthia Gates, David Gates, Anthony Gates and Penny Gates; two stepsons, Dale Bliss and Keith Bliss; a sister, Delores Gates; and his best friend, Larry Lambrose. He was preceded in death by a stepson, Thomas Bliss.
A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 25, at Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg. Entombment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens mausoleum.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorials Processing Center, Box 5216, Glen Allen, Va. 23058.
Online guest book at covenantfuneralservice.com.