Sally Snow Gates passed away peacefully on April 14th, 2021, on her beloved husband's birthday, surrounded by family after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 75 years young. Sally was born on July 28, 1945 in Biddeford, Maine and was raised by her mother, Ruth Kilpatrick Moore and father, Forster H. Moore in Canastota, NY. She carried fond memories of her childhood with her siblings and friends, playing in the country pastures, swimming at Sodus Bay, cheerleading at football games, attending dances and enjoying life. Sally graduated Canastota High School in 1963. She nurtured her friendships throughout the years and was an integral member of her high school reunion committee. She attended the Albany College of Pharmacy where she made life-long friendships, and met the love of her life, Reeder Dee Gates. They graduated in 1968 and married later that year. In 1972, they established roots in Ithaca, NY and their busy life began: they purchased their first of three drug stores and welcomed the birth of their son, Jason. While Reeder was building their pharmacy business, Sally poured all her love and devotion into supporting Reeder and their children, Jason, Erin (Missy) and Ainsley. She lived fully: she raised three children with busy sports schedules, worked as a pharmacist, and honed her golf game - playing 18-27 holes daily with her friends. She also managed to find time for her endless creative hobbies and projects while organizing golf leagues and working on various committees at the YMCA and the Country Club of Ithaca. Sally never missed a loved one's birthday and was notorious for sending notes and cards for every holiday (she should have bought stock in Hallmark). She was an exceptional party planner and generously hosted countless birthday parties, showers, holiday parties, golf tournaments - as well as her daughters' extravagant weddings. Many said she missed her calling as an event planner, until Reeder pointed out that no one could afford her because everything she did was way over the top.
Her love of sports was as passionate as her love of family. Games and tournaments often dictated her daily schedule. Between the Boston Red Sox, Syracuse Basketball and the PGA, her friends and family knew when NOT to call on the telephone. In recent years she often travelled hours to attend her grandchildren's, great nieces', great nephews' and her friends' children's sporting events.
Sally and Reeder loved their life in Ithaca, but the most special place in their hearts was their home in Otisfield, Maine. Sally was happiest there, when surrounded by her family and friends…the more the merrier was her motto. Their dream of creating a place for loved ones to gather and create lasting memories was realized on Thompson Lake at The Other Side.
Sally's spirit was larger than life, and she was forever an optimist. Her generosity and kindness knew no limit. She was fiercely loyal and honest; she was the truest of friends and those blessed to be closest to her knew she was there day or night. These friendships filled her with love and laughter and helped sustain her through difficult times. Her strong faith in God was strengthened even further when she was confirmed into the Catholic Church in 2020.
Above all, family mattered most to Sally. She loved her siblings dearly. She was the glue that held her growing family together year after year: she hosted holiday events, planned summer gatherings, enforced regular communication, and mediated conflicts. Her love for her extended family was only eclipsed by her love for her husband, children and grandchildren.
Sally lost her husband of 51 years only 18 months ago after she lovingly cared for him throughout his 3-year long battle with dementia. Without a doubt, the most devastating event in her and Reeder's lives was the sudden loss of their son, Jason in December 2009. She refused to allow his death to break her spirit and celebrated his life for the rest of her days. She is also predeceased by her mother, father, mother-in law Helen Gates; father-in-law Clifford Gates; brothers, Bill and Forster Moore; brother-in-law Maurice Gates; brother-in-law Gary Hood; her nephew Scott Childs; and her grand-nephew and "hero to all" Todd Quist. Sally is survived by her daughter Erin (Missy) Gates, son-in-law Mark Smith and their daughters Sonja Gates Smith and Sally Snow Smith of Cranston RI; her daughter Ainsley Gates, son-in-law Brady Nunley and their son Gates Christopher Nunley of Franklin MA; her grandchildren, Aidan Reeder Gates, Asher Snow Gates and Aislyn "Tiggy" Snow Gates and their mother Eve Gates of Martha's Vineyard; dear friend and "adopted" son, David Church of Dryden NY; her sister Gail Snow Hood and children Sally (David) Quist, Todd (Kelley) Hood; sister Bette (David) Minarski, and their children, Dan (Julie) Minarski, Jon (Sheri) Minarski, Katie (Chris) Loviglio, James (Ashley) Minarski, Stephen (Nkem) Minarski; brother Brett (Denise) Moore, and their children Beth (Patrick) Dawes, Justin Moore, and Katie (Brendan) Yeman; brother James (Donalyn) Moore, and their children Miranda (John) Orlowski, Jesse (Stacey) Moore, and Victoria (Corey) Pease; sister Patricia (Ray) Corriveau; sister Helen Moore Day and her children Douglas Day and Susan Day; and nephews and nieces, Bruce Moore, Cheryl Butler, Debbie Giles and Jack Moore; sister in-law and dear friend Vanessa Fey and her children Matthew (Ambra) Fey, Joel (Heather) Fey and Lauren Fey; sister-in-law Dona Gates, and her children Marc (Karen) Childs, Wendi (Doug) Morgante, Holli Gates and Shannon Wiech; as well as many beloved cousins, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Due to COVID restrictions a Memorial Mass will be streamed virtually on April 30th at 11am from St. Catherine's of Siena in Ithaca, NY. To access the live stream go to: https://stcathofsiena.org/ and click on livestream link and then select service). Friends and family are invited to a reception to celebrate her life at The Country Club of Ithaca, 189 Pleasant Grove Road, Ithaca, NY on April 30th at 1pm. Memorial donations in Sally's memory may be made to The Jason Christopher Gates Scholarship Fund c/o St. Mark's School, 25 Marlboro Road, Southborough, MA 01772.