George Rollo Gates, who preferred to be called Joe, was born Tuesday, December 21, 1937, to Arba and Alice (Rowe) Gates in Proctorsville, Vermont. He passed away peacefully on January 30, 2026, in Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Joe served a short stint in the U.S. Air Force after high school and married his sweetheart, Gertrude E. McKinney of Natural Dam, NY, on May 17, 1958. Their adventure began quickly with the birth of their first child, Peggy Sue, a year later, followed by their second child, Stewart Howard, in 1961. With their family complete, the couple settled into family life.
“Settled,” however, never truly described Joe. He loved racing anything he could get his hands on or build—cars, speedboats, go‑karts, kayaks, and canoes. His best days were spent with a fly rod in the river or deep in the woods hunting whatever was in season. Later in life, his passion for fishing and tying flies continued, but he traded his gun for a camera, preferring to watch instead of hunt. No longer hiding from game wardens, he instead partnered with them to teach disabled children to fish.
Joe spent many years as a driller in the underground zinc and lead mines of St. Joe Minerals in Balmat, NY, before moving across the country to mine coal and uranium, and then across the world to open‑pit mines for copper, gold, and silver. While in Indonesia, he specialized in mine rescue, which involved rappelling off cliffs, out of helicopters, and even up and down glaciers to save people who found themselves in dangerous situations. Throughout his career, he fought for safety and just treatment for his fellow workers.
A storyteller extraordinaire, Joe was true to his Irish, Scottish, and Welsh ancestry. His innate sense of right and wrong made him a relentless defender of those in need of a voice.
His adventures finally came to an end in Sierra Vista, AZ, a quiet and peaceful passing while his son and wife stood watch over him.
He is survived by his wife, Gertrude; his daughter Peggy Sue (Gary Morgan); his son Stewart (Terri Wood); six grandchildren—Claire, Nathan, Nicole, Brian, Molly, and Skyler; and great‑grandchildren Ethan, Marlee, Bailey, Logan, Cody, and Nora Rose.