Our mother.
Ethel Louise Gatus grew up in the Midwest, specifically in East St. Louis and Kansas City, MIssouri. After her mother's death, young Ethel moved with her only sister Katherine to Kansas City where she attended school.
In 1955 she met Donovan Gatus while she was "coming home from the movies" (her words). Donovan was in the US Air Force at the time. They married in 1956 and had five daughters: Camela, Kamara, Roni, Donna and Sophia. The family moved to Indianapolis and stayed there until 1965, when Donovan drove the young family across the country to Southern California.
Two other children, Yolanda (b. 1965) and Arturo (b. 1967) died as infants.
Upon relocating to Compton, Ethel and Donovan ended their marriage and Ethel raised their children as a single mother. She worked as a waitress and later, a Nurses' Aide (now known as CNA). After retiring she focused on maintaining relationships with her adult children and many grandchildren.
Ethel was feisty, beautiful and sharp. She loved to sing. We often remember her singing, "Blessed and Brought Up by the Lord"while cleaning house and rearranging the furniture. She was left-handed, a wonderful cook, and loved her children with a passion. She remained in Compton for the rest of her life. Her health begain to fail in 2020 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. The cancer caused severe weight loss and other illnesses and she passed away peacefully in 2021 from respiratory failure and pneumonia.
Her passing is a great loss to all of us and we miss her tremendously.
We love you Mama. We'll see you in heaven.
Ethel Louise Gatus grew up in the Midwest, specifically in East St. Louis and Kansas City, MIssouri. After her mother's death, young Ethel moved with her only sister Katherine to Kansas City where she attended school.
In 1955 she met Donovan Gatus while she was "coming home from the movies" (her words). Donovan was in the US Air Force at the time. They married in 1956 and had five daughters: Camela, Kamara, Roni, Donna and Sophia. The family moved to Indianapolis and stayed there until 1965, when Donovan drove the young family across the country to Southern California.
Two other children, Yolanda (b. 1965) and Arturo (b. 1967) died as infants.
Upon relocating to Compton, Ethel and Donovan ended their marriage and Ethel raised their children as a single mother. She worked as a waitress and later, a Nurses' Aide (now known as CNA). After retiring she focused on maintaining relationships with her adult children and many grandchildren.
Ethel was feisty, beautiful and sharp. She loved to sing. We often remember her singing, "Blessed and Brought Up by the Lord"while cleaning house and rearranging the furniture. She was left-handed, a wonderful cook, and loved her children with a passion. She remained in Compton for the rest of her life. Her health begain to fail in 2020 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. The cancer caused severe weight loss and other illnesses and she passed away peacefully in 2021 from respiratory failure and pneumonia.
Her passing is a great loss to all of us and we miss her tremendously.
We love you Mama. We'll see you in heaven.
Our mother.
Ethel Louise Gatus grew up in the Midwest, specifically in East St. Louis and Kansas City, MIssouri. After her mother's death, young Ethel moved with her only sister Katherine to Kansas City where she attended school.
In 1955 she met Donovan Gatus while she was "coming home from the movies" (her words). Donovan was in the US Air Force at the time. They married in 1956 and had five daughters: Camela, Kamara, Roni, Donna and Sophia. The family moved to Indianapolis and stayed there until 1965, when Donovan drove the young family across the country to Southern California.
Two other children, Yolanda (b. 1965) and Arturo (b. 1967) died as infants.
Upon relocating to Compton, Ethel and Donovan ended their marriage and Ethel raised their children as a single mother. She worked as a waitress and later, a Nurses' Aide (now known as CNA). After retiring she focused on maintaining relationships with her adult children and many grandchildren.
Ethel was feisty, beautiful and sharp. She loved to sing. We often remember her singing, "Blessed and Brought Up by the Lord"while cleaning house and rearranging the furniture. She was left-handed, a wonderful cook, and loved her children with a passion. She remained in Compton for the rest of her life. Her health begain to fail in 2020 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. The cancer caused severe weight loss and other illnesses and she passed away peacefully in 2021 from respiratory failure and pneumonia.
Her passing is a great loss to all of us and we miss her tremendously.
We love you Mama. We'll see you in heaven.
Ethel Louise Gatus grew up in the Midwest, specifically in East St. Louis and Kansas City, MIssouri. After her mother's death, young Ethel moved with her only sister Katherine to Kansas City where she attended school.
In 1955 she met Donovan Gatus while she was "coming home from the movies" (her words). Donovan was in the US Air Force at the time. They married in 1956 and had five daughters: Camela, Kamara, Roni, Donna and Sophia. The family moved to Indianapolis and stayed there until 1965, when Donovan drove the young family across the country to Southern California.
Two other children, Yolanda (b. 1965) and Arturo (b. 1967) died as infants.
Upon relocating to Compton, Ethel and Donovan ended their marriage and Ethel raised their children as a single mother. She worked as a waitress and later, a Nurses' Aide (now known as CNA). After retiring she focused on maintaining relationships with her adult children and many grandchildren.
Ethel was feisty, beautiful and sharp. She loved to sing. We often remember her singing, "Blessed and Brought Up by the Lord"while cleaning house and rearranging the furniture. She was left-handed, a wonderful cook, and loved her children with a passion. She remained in Compton for the rest of her life. Her health begain to fail in 2020 when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. The cancer caused severe weight loss and other illnesses and she passed away peacefully in 2021 from respiratory failure and pneumonia.
Her passing is a great loss to all of us and we miss her tremendously.
We love you Mama. We'll see you in heaven.
Inscription
Loving, feisty Mother and Grandmother.
Gravesite Details
Buried two tiers above her grandson, Arturo Da'Naire Frazier.
