Jewell Etta Thornton was born on April 21, 1907, in Timpson, Texas to parents Anderson Bert Thornton and Mary Eliza Compton Hughes.  She had two siblings, Zolan Berson and Cleo Bertha.  Jewell graduated from Timpson High School in 1927.  At the age of 23 she married Echols Robertson Gates on April 16, 1931 at the age of 23.  Echols passed awy away in 1941.    They had one daugter, born on Januay 23, 1933 in Houston, Mary Lou Gates who passed away in 1985.  Jewell sister, Cleo Bertha, died on August 31, 1989 in Duncanville, Texas.  Jewell passed away on December 5, 2000 at the age of 93 in Nacogdoches.