Steven Lee Gates

Steven Lee Gates died Sunday, November 24th at the age of 72. Steve was born on July 25th, 1952 in Fairfield, Illinois to Betty Bline Gates and Floyd Doyle Gates. He was a Navy “Brat” and was privileged to grow up by the oceans in Florida, California, Puerto Rico and Spain. After graduating high school in Spain he moved to North Carolina and attended Fayetteville Technical Community College, then UNC-Charlotte, earning an Electrical Engineering degree in 1975. He worked in the semi-conductor industry for 15 years with Texas Instruments, Wandell and Golterman and Schlumberger.

In 1992 after corporate layoffs, he made a major career change and with wife Marilyn, opened Cary Awards, Inc., which has grown and survived over 30 years and was recently awarded the “Best in Triangle” for 2024. He has been the heart and center of the business, and formed solid friendships with customers and colleagues. He shared his kindness, wit and love for people every day.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Marilyn Whitesides Gates and their 3 children, Jessica and husband Brian Collette, David, John and partner Elizabeth Stephenson. He also was “PopPop” to 5 grandchildren: Samantha, Paul, Lena, John E., and Arlo; and brother-in-law to Carolyn and Dan Bumgardner.

He was a loving husband, son, father and grandfather.

The family will receive friends at Brown Wynne in Cary for 30 minutes starting a 4:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday December 12th, 2024. Memorial tributes and messges of sympathy can be left by clicking the "Add a Memory" box below. Brown Wynne of Cary is honored to serve the Gates of family.