Atkinson Gates’ mother dies at 69

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002 | 8:34 a.m.

Bobbie Jean Atkinson, mother of Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, died Monday at her home. She was 69.

Services for Atkinson, a Las Vegas resident of 50 years and a retired teacher's assistant, will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the Second Baptist Church. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday at Palm Mortuary-Downtown.

Atkinson Gates did not attend the regular meeting of the Clark County Commission Tuesday morning. Commissioner Erin Kenny announced the death at the meeting.

Kenny, who has both tangled with and supported Atkinson Gates over several years together on the commission, called for a moment of silence in respect for her colleague's loss.

Atkinson was born June 29, 1933, in Warren, Ark., She moved to Las Vegas in 1952, where her children were born. Yvonne, the eldest, was 15 when her father died. She went on to serve on the Clark County School Board in the 1980s and the Clark County Commission starting in the early 1990s.

In addition to raising her children after her husband died and working in the local education system, Bobbie Jean served as grand matron of the Order of Eastern Star of Silver Star Chapter No. 15 and was a member of the Elks and Alpha Temple.

In addition to Atkinson Gates, she is survived by three other daughters, Connie Frances Atkinson and Deitra Diane Atkinson, both of Las Vegas, and Isophine Atkinson of Culver City, Calif.; two sisters, Georgia Lee Green and Mae Dell Craney, both of Las Vegas; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

The family said donations can be made in Atkinson's memory to Nathan Adelson Hospice.