Leonilda "Jane" Gates

Leonilda "Jane" Gates

Gouverneur - Leonilda "Jane" Gates, 97, passed away on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at Lewis County General Hospital in Lowville.
   Calling hours will be on Tuesday, August 22nd from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm with a funeral service at 1:00 pm at the Green Funeral Home, Gouverneur with Fr. Shane Lynch, pastor of St. James Catholic Church officiating and burial with military honors in Riverside Cemetery, Gouverneur.
   Leonilda was born on February 26, 1920 in Gouverneur, one of fourteen children of Claude and Agnes Shortt Gates.
   Jane graduated from Gouverneur Dean High School and served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946. She was a member of the 402nd ASF Army band. Upon her honorable discharge, Jane attended and graduated from Rochester Business Institute.
   She worked at the Montgomery Wards catalog store in Gouverneur for 31 years and was the store manager for several years.
   Jane lived on Williams Street all her life and was a member of the Gouverneur American Legion, served in its band, and often played Taps at military honors ceremonies. She also enjoyed studying genealogy, hunting, and fishing.
   Jane is survived by her brother Claude R. Gates of Gouverneur, many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents Claude H. Gates and Agnes Shortt Gates, her brothers Yale, Jerome, Paul Kenneth, and James Kermit "Bill" Gates, her sisters Vena Davey, Orpha Bennett, Ann Brown, Teresa Butler, Mary Moran, Eleanor J. "Betty" Gates, infant sisters Rita Gates, and Edith Gates.    Memorial donations in Jane's memory may be made to St. James Catholic Church, 164 E. Main Street, Gouverneur, NY 13642.