Nancy J. Gates

In the early hours of August 1 , Nancy Gates quietly changed her address. She will now be tending the gardens of Heaven. She leaves behind - A stepstool on a lawnmower, fingernails filled with dirt, a heart filled with love for her two children and two grandchildren, a great sense of humor, and a deep tie to the land she was born on and cherished till the end. She had a body that never worked right and joked that she was put together with spare parts. She was a quiet soul and loved the children that she taught. She found it easier to watch life go by than become engaged in it. She could see the funny side of life and loved cats -maybe because they were so adventurous and confidently aloof in their lives-things that she could never find in herself.

Nancy was born June 30, 1940 in Copenhagen, New York -the daughter of the late Carleton and Margaret Marvin Cramer. She was the daughter of a farmer and never lost her love of the land and country living. She spent her summers working in Girl Scout and Fresh Air camps before graduating from Copenhagen Central school in 1958 and from SUNY Oswego in 1962 with a degree in elementary education. She later received a masters degree in Special Education. She enjoyed playing the church organ, taught Sunday school for many years, and led a junior high church youth group. She married Melvin Gates and was later divorced.

She spent her later years, gardening, both vegetables and flowers- and taking volumes of pictures of nature, particularly birds. She was also a proud member of the Canton Senior Citizen group and of the Oswego State Alumni Association. She is survived by her two daughters Amy (Adrian) Kelley of Martinsburg, West Virginia and Cynthia Grago: two grandchildren, Kaitlyn Kelley and Justin Grago-as well as many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. Nancy was predeceased by two older brothers, Robert and Donald Cramer, and a younger sister, Janice Cramer.

The burial will be in the Tylerville Cemetery (near Copenhagen NY) and there will be no funeral services. Memorial contributions may be made to a local food pantry or animal shelter of your choice in Nancy's memory.