Cheryl Kay Gates

Cheryl Kay Gates, RNC BSN, age 82 passed peacefully and surrounded by love on Tuesday April 28^th 2026 at Ohio Health (Kobacker) Hospice House. Cheryl was born on April 8^th 1944 in Chillicothe Ohio, the daughter of the late Hoyt and Helen Martin.

Cheryl was raised on the family farm with her older brother Larry outside of the tiny village of Clarksburg, Ohio. She loved growing up on the farm, participating in 4-H and showing her Angus heifers and steer at the Pickaway and Ross County fairs, as well as the Ohio State Fair.

Cheryl was blessed to have most of her family live in and around Clarksburg. She adored spending time with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who all conveniently lived on adjoining streets.

Cheryl thought about being a veterinarian when she grew up, but that changed after she fell off her pony and suffered a skull fracture. She was taken to White Cross Hospital in Columbus. The nurses there saved her life - that is when she decided to become a nurse.

Cheryl graduated from Riverside White Cross School of Nursing in 1965. She loved to tell people that she was a nurse for 61 years - she started counting on the day she started nurses training - because all the learning was hands on from day one.

Cheryl was certified in Medical-Surgical Nursing, but she practiced all types of nursing. She worked at the first free standing ER in Central Ohio - Grant-Otterbein, which was found on Otterbein's campus. Cheryl's career took her to Grant Hospital where she served as an Assistant Manager and Manager of an Oncology floor. Cheryl also practiced in Home Health and Hospice.  Cheryl obtained her BSN from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1995.

Cheryl also worked part time at Bath and Body Works for many years - her house was affectionately known as the Gender Road store (because if something was not available at the store, more than likely she had it and she would make sure the customer would get what they needed). Bath and Body Works sales will take a hit without Cheryl's purchases!

Cheryl loved people and enjoyed taking care of people. One thing that upset her was that nursing had moved in recent years toward being business-like and away from patient care.

Cheryl loved her Ohio State Buckeyes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Joe Burrow and to watch ABC World News Tonight with her boyfriend David Muir. She loved to tell people that she got continuing education credits by watching General Hospital.

In addition to her parents, Cheryl is predeceased by her older brother Larry Martin, and her beloved aunts and uncles: Jim and Pat Martin, Ruth and George Skinner, Nell and Glen Ater, Joe Martin, and Helen Marsh.

Cheryl is survived by her daughters Becki and CeCe, her devoted and beloved niece who she affectionately called her "best" Lori Martin Federici, several nieces and nephews, cousins, her aunt Marilyn Martin Oliver, and her best friends - her feline companions Will and Grace.

Visitation for Cheryl will be at 2:00 pm on Saturday May 23rd at Moreland Funeral Home 55 East Schrock Road in Westerville, with a memorial service immediately following at 3:00 pm.