David Dupree was born in Kansas City, Missouri and was the oldest of 5 children.

He completed his secondary education in the Kansas City, Missouri School District, graduating from Central High School in 1966.  He then went on to attend and graduate from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY.

David returned to Kansas City and worked as the Administrative Assistant to the City Council under Mayor, Charles Berkley.  He then accepted the position as Director of Operations at General Hospital and led the move of General Hospital to Truman Medical Center.

David had an entrepreneur spirit.  He teamed up with 2 of his high school friends, Carlton Ridley and James Ethern, and for a period of time they became concert promotors by the name of R.E.D. (Ridley, Ethern & Dupree)  Enterprises.

After leaving Kansas City, David made Boulder, Colorado his home for several years.  During this time he traveled the United States, speaking to different companies and institutions on restructuring and policy changes.  David then moved to San Francisco, California. He worked in the Aids office and then transferred to the City Attorney’s office until he retired. 

He moved to Alameda with his partner of ten years Rick Wilson.  David struggled with kidney dialysis for the last twelve years and left this world peacefully on the morning of April 5th.  He is truly in a better place.

David is preceded in death by his mother, Geraldine Gates, his fathers, David Dupree, Sr., and Henry Gates, Sr., his grandparents, Samuel and Early May McMillian, his sister Deborah Ann Dupree,  his niece Lisia Martae Dupree, brother-in-law, Reggie Bradford, Sr.  and nephew, Terrance Gates.

David will truly be missed by his brother, Henry Melton Gates, Jr. (Rose) of Overland Park, KS, two sisters Gloria Gates Bradford of Grandview, MO and Vanessa Gates of Kansas City, MO,  32 nieces and nephews, his former partner Rick and a host of relatives and friends.

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