Larry Allen Gates, 74, of Waterloo, died at Cedar Valley Hospice Home Monday, April 1, 2019, of natural causes.

He was born August 2, 1944 in Waterloo, the son of Clifford John and Elsie Belle Loy Gates and graduated from Waterloo East High School in 1964. He served in the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War and received an honorable discharge.

Larry married Annie Loywd Gary Meeks on March 20, 1990 at The New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Waterloo. He worked at John Deere for 36 years and retired as a machinist in 2009.

He was an active member of Shilliam Ave. Church of God in Christ and served as Chair of Trustees and a deacon and was a proud member of the Male Chorus.

Larry was also interested in family genealogy. He was known for being a great mathematician and was a protector of children.

Larry is survived by his wife; 4 sons: Craig Gates‚ La Porte City, Tony Gates‚ Waterloo, Tracy Meeks‚ Milwaukee‚ WI, and Spencer Loywd-Meeks‚ Minneapolis‚ MN; 2 daughters: Diane Gates‚ Cedar Falls and Ivy Meeks‚ Atlanta‚ GA; a grandson, Cassius Gates‚ St. Joseph‚ MO; 3 brothers: LaVerne (Jeanette) Gates‚ Florida, Don (Shirley) Gates‚ Aurora‚ MO, and Ronnie Gates‚ Waterloo; 3 sisters: Joan Hanley‚ St. Petersburg‚ FL, and Barbara Davis and Karen Moore‚ both of Waterloo; his mother-in-law, Virginia Meeks‚ Waterloo; 19 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, George Meeks Jr.; 7 brothers: Clifford Junior, Gary, Robert, John, Gerald, Dennis, and Kenneth Gates; and 3 sisters: LaVonne Rochholz, Sally Gates, and Betty Englehardt.