Claudious Gatewood

Claudious Ray Quintana Gatewood, known to his family as “Noodie” was born on April 21, 1978 in Denver, CO born to, David Ray Anderson and Stella Gatewood.  Claudious’s father proceeded him in death.  He was the youngest brother of Diema Roy, and Shaquanna Davis Roundtree and older brother of Takia Danae Anderson.

Claudious attended Sable Elementary School, North Middle School, and Aurora Central High School.  He received his High School Equivalency Diploma in 2013.  He also earned college credits towards an Associate degree.  Claudious was a fast learner, he surpassed crawling and went straight to walking (on his tippy toes) and soon after began to run everywhere.  When he was eleven years old, he played little league football for the Aurora Lions.  He was pretty good too!  All of his uncles played football in school and that was one of the things all of the Gatewood men had in common.  Although Claudious’s football career was short lived he always remained a fan of the game.  The Denver Broncos was his team of choice, and you could catch him with Broncos attire from head to toe. He would often attend his oldest son’s football games and when he couldn’t attend, he would give him pointers on how to be a “beast” on the field.  Claudious had a strong faith in God and was baptized in 1988 with his sister Diema at Calvary Temple in Denver, Colorado.  As a child Claudious loved to play outside with his friends, he was a happy child.  He would often wander off where he shouldn’t be and would be shocked when he returned home and found that the neighbor had talked to his Mother and told her he was waaaay up the street.  Claudious volunteered at the Head Start Program as a little lad with his Mother.  He read to the children and helped with classroom preparations.  He was ecstatic when he was presented with an award of appreciation for his efforts.  He often shared his personal struggles of not having as strong of a bond that he would have liked to have had with family and specifically his children, but he would often share his love and his desire to obtain that bond and was hopeful that it would happen one day. Claudious was a very loving, and kind person.  He loved being around people and he touched the lives of many with his kindness and forgiving heart.  He had a quiet and calm personality, that is, until you made him mad!  It took a lot to get him mad, but if you did, you better watch out!  He was very protective of his loved ones and loved to go fishing, barbeques, and loved to barbeque himself (although he wasn’t very good at it).  He would often be teased about how long it took for him to finish.  Claudious was very active in his younger son Kai’s life from the very beginning and was present for all of his major milestones.  Kai has taken after some of his Dad’s lingo and will tell you in a minute that he is going to “Bust you up”. Claudious had a smile and a laugh that was infectious and could light up a room!  He was raised in Aurora, CO and represented Aurora, Colorado to the fullest. He enjoyed hanging out with his “homies” he enjoyed playing spades, board games, video games, and dominoes. He thought he was unbeatable in dominoes and the King of chess.

Claudious was most recently involved in a program that allowed him to go around and speak to children, which was very dear to his heart.  He loved the thought of being a positive influence and making a difference with the youth in his hometown.

We have lost his presence on earth but know he was greeted with open arms by his long-time friend Patrick Manning on the other side.

Claudious departed this life and crossed over to the other on December 12, 2021 in Aurora, Colorado.  Those left to mourn and cherish his memory include his mother, Stella Grinage-Hirn (Michael Hirn), his sisters, Diema Roy, Shaquanna Davis, Takia Danae Anderson, sons Amauri Ray Gatewood (Shayla Malone), and Kai Ray Gatewood (Tracey Jones), daughters Zamiko Jacobus (Sunsearay Love-Jacobus), Araea Nicole Rae Gatewood, A’nyah Rae Gatewood (Demeca Martin-Hill), nephew, Mykael Roy, and aunts Kindra Gatewood, Shirley Gatewood, Brenda Gatewood, of Denver, Colorado, Margaret Gatewood of Omaha, Nebraska, and Vera Roundtree of Texas, and uncles James Gatewood, and Leon Gatewood of Colorado, Harrold Gatewood of Reno, Nevada, and Robert Gatewood, Jr. of Memphis, Tennessee. He also left behind a host of dear cousins, and precious friends.