Elizabeth Montgomery Oates Gage

Spartanburg, SC- Elizabeth (Betty) Montgomery Oates Gage died Friday, September 15, 2017 at the Spartanburg Regional Hospice House.  She was blessed to have lived a full and happy life for the 96 years she graced this world and all the many people she called friends over those years. Betty was born to Kate Montgomery Oates Ward and Fred Blanton Oates on July 17, 1921 in her grandparents’ family home on South Pine Street in Spartanburg.  Her early childhood was spent in Asheville, NC before attending schools at Ashley Hall, St. Mary’s, Converse College, and finally Katharine Gibbs in New York City.  After settling back in Spartanburg, she met her future husband Theodore Wannamaker Gage as he was beginning his career with AT&T which eventually lead to their marriage on February 14, 1953.  His career path soon led them to homes in Charleston, Greenville, Columbia, and lastly Atlanta where in each city they made many lasting friendships, with many due to Betty’s membership as a sustainer in the Junior League. Upon Theodore’s retirement, they returned to live in Betty’s hometown of Spartanburg where she happily reconnected with many of friends from her past. Betty was most happy at the bridge table, working on needlepoint, gardening, enjoying the companionship of her many dogs over her life, and being with her family.  She continued to play her weekly Monday bridge game right up through this past Labor Day.  Mrs. Gage was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Spartanburg. She was blessed to have a very large family presence on Lake Summit, NC and enjoyed a lifetime of summers there, first at her grandparents’ home, then her mother’s cabin, and lastly at her home “Morningside” which she and Theodore acquired in 1963.  Being with her extended family, children, and especially her grandchildren brought her much joy “Living on Lake Time!”  Also during their retirement years, they enjoyed winters at their Cape Coral, FL home watching beautiful sunsets. Betty is survived by her son Theodore "Ted" Wannamaker Gage, Jr. and wife Nancy Smith Gage of Spartanburg and her daughter, Kate Gage Durie of Atlanta, GA; three grandchildren, Nicole Gage Durie of Denver CO, Nancy Harrison Gage of College Park, MD, and Cole Gage Durie of Atlanta, GA; a sister Lalage Oates Warrington of Spartanburg, SC and a brother Walter Montgomery Oates and wife Julie Henderson Oates of Flat Rock, NC.  Betty leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her parents and husband, Betty was predeceased by her brother Fred Blanton Oates, Jr., her step father Chester Dudley Ward, and step-siblings Elizabeth Ward Cannon and Chester Dudley Ward, Jr. A funeral service will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Advent on Tuesday, September 19th at 3:00PM conducted by The Reverend J. Edward Morris.  The burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. In remembrance of Betty, memorials may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Advent Foundation, 141 Advent St., Spartanburg, SC 29302 or the Lake Summit Foundation, 15 Westminster Court, Hendersonville, NC, 28739.