Cecil Dean Gatewood,67, of Ottawa, Ill., died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2005, at Pleasant View Luther Home in Ottawa.

He was born July 2, 1937, in Blackwell, Okla., the son of Hugh and Blanche(Rendla)Gatewood. He married Pamela Samek of Elmhurst, Ill., in Ottawa on Feb. 6, 1965.

Mr. Gatewood grew up near Pollard and graduated from Piggott High School in 1955. At graduation he was awarded the Citizenship Award. He attended then Arkansas State College in Jonesboro from 1955-57, Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La., from 1957-1958, and graduated from Chicago Technical College in Chicago with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering in March 1963.

Mr. Gatewood was a member of Southside Christian Church in Ottawa where he had previously served as a deacon. He also served in the National Guard, was an amateur HAM radio operator, private pilot, and member of the Starved Rock Model A Club. In 1997 he retired from the Illinois Department of Transportation after 35 1/2 years of service. He was a Registered Professional Engineer and in 1982 was presented Engineer of the Year awards at both the District 3 and State of Illinois levels for his work on the Ottawa, Ill., River Bridge.

His parents preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife; a son, Brian Gatewood of Ottawa; a daughter, Deborah (Mark) Hindsley of Indianapolis, Ind.; two granddaughters, Kristin and Kyleigh Hindsley; and two sisters, Wynema Gatewood of St. Augustine, Fla., and Darla (Fred) Snider of Cape Girardeau.

Memorials may be directed to Southside Christian Church, 1180 Catherine Street, Ottawa, IL 61350.