GAMBLIN, Mary Celesta

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, AZ November 01, 2006 Mary Celesta Gamblin, also known as Mary Bates, died Oct. 29, 2006. Celesta was born Oct. 30, 1913, in Browder, Ky. Celesta was a member of the Mountain Shadow Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Cottonwood, where she and her husband of more than 67 years, Clarence Gamblin, attended for many years. After the death of Clarence in 1997, Celesta married a long-time friend, Ed Bates, also a member of the Mountain Shadow Congregation. After Ed's death, Celesta took back the name Gamblin. Celesta is survived by five of her six children: Daphne Coppinger (Art) of Camp Verde, Delila White of Cottonwood, Frieda Williams (Jim) of Albuquerque, N.M., Lindle Gamblin (Janice) of Derby, Kan., and Myrna Dierenfield (Dan) of Lower Lake, Calif.; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. Celesta will be laid to rest at the Cottonwood Cemetery. Interment will be private. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com