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Gates Magoo was born Joel Franklin Breckenridge at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas on the 8th of August 1970, the third of three children to Robert Joseph and Lela Viola Breckenridge. He passed away in his sleep in the wee hours of April 17, 2023.
He is survived by his father, Bob Breckenridge; his sisters, Angela Dawn Breckenridge and Alison (Breckenridge) Bush; his nephews, Elliott Moriah Balch and Matthew James Bush; his niece, Grace Josephine Bush, and his brothers-in-law, Tedd Walley and Tracy W. Bush.
His life was as a river’s. As a kid, Gates loved magic and entertaining family and friends with card and slight-of-hand tricks. He had a Mortimer Snerd doll and “learned” how to throw his voice and do a ventriloquist routine. He had a unicycle and could ride it pretty well. He went from hackey sack to juggling scarves and balls and then bowling pins. He went to Brian Adams and Booker T. Washington (Arts Magnet) High Schools in Dallas. He passed his American History course by composing and performing (for his and all the other history classes) an original composition detailing the story of Plessy v. Ferguson.
Gates loved Frank Zappa, Tom Waits and Dannie Barker. An avid reader, he kept Kerouac, Vonnegut, and Steinbeck always close at hand. He did the NY Time crossword puzzle in pen.
In the early 80s, as a member of the Celebration Singers youth choir at St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Mesquite, Texas, Gates performed Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar on tour, and countless popular songs in “Spring Shows”. He played the role of Jesus in Superstar on one memorable tour and debuted his _rst original song “Wash Your Hands” at a Spring Show.
