Barbara Lou Gately, Hagen, Boatman, Wynkoop, Citti, age 94, of Traverse City, Michigan, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2025. She was born on August 27, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, to Thomas Hayes Gately and Louella Marie Conover, who were of Irish and Dutch heritage. Louella had a beautiful soprano voice.

Barbara grew up in Chicago and cherished summers spent at Lake Wawasee in Indiana and winter visits to Florida. She attended Holy Rosary School and graduated from The Academy of Our Lady (Longwood Academy). Barbara began her college studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before transferring to Northeastern University, where she earned her bachelor's degree.

In 1917 Thomas and his brothers James, John and Will bought the Peoples store at 11201 S Michigan Avenue in the Roseland neighborhood of Chicago. The brothers added their name to the store. Gately's Peoples Store remains a fond memory for many Chicago shoppers. During the Depression the store honored "scrip." Barbara's Uncle Jim Gately was the President of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners from 1945-1967 and increased the number of city parks from 135-430.

Barbara enjoyed playing piano, loved to tap dance, sail on the bays and lakes, and golfed in her spare time. She was an accomplished and competitive duplicate bridge player who also enjoyed Rummikub and other games. What she did not like was losing, and that was one thing she made clear!

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Tom and Jim; her sister, Marian, her uncles, aunts, and her spouses.

She is survived by her children, David Hagen (Marcia), Lise Martin, and Jack Boatman (Sally); her stepchildren, Alan Wynkoop, Kevin Wynkoop, Kathryn Wynkoop-Ikuma (Yasu), Craig Citti (Linda), and Cathy Citti (Tom); her grandchildren, Laura (Bob) Hughes, Karon (David) Velek, Kristen (Ben) Kwasnick, Austin Hagen, Anna Boatman, Eric Boatman, Matthew Martin, Olivia (Garrett) Vinikoor, Daniel Ikuma, Shozo (Yuka) Wynkoop, Leland Wynkoop Danielle & Moshay Arnold and Chris Ori; and her great-grandchildren, Will Velek, Beni Velek, Boden Kwasnick, Archie Kwasnick, Cami Kwasnick, Vivian Wynkoop, Ilah Arnold, Iris Arnold, Emry Arnold, Caden Ori, Carson Ori, and Carter Ori. There are numerous nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City, Michigan.

While she left us sooner than we would have liked, Barbara was ready to tap dance her way to her next adventure. Her time at Cordia was brief, but it was a great experience for the family. And having her close provided so many opportunities for the family to interact with her. Thanksgiving, Christmas, plays, band and choir concerts. And a real highlight for Barbara the Traverse City Philharmonic at Interlochen performed along with her great-grandson's choir.

The Green Bay Packers, all her family and friends will have to make do with the memories this special woman made. Maybe not a perfect life, but she always rose above the challenges to take care of her family. Barbara Lou, you are missed.

The family will hold a gathering this summer at Crystal Lake, Frankfort, Michigan, to celebrate Barbara's life.