Obituary of Paul K. Gates

GOUVERNEUR – Paul K. Gates, age 87, of Gouverneur, passed away on April 11, 2019 at Gouverneur Hospital due to pneumonia after a 12-year battle with voice box cancer. There will be a funeral Mass held at St. James Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Gouverneur VFW. There are no calling hours. Arrangements are with French Funeral Home in Gouverneur. Paul was born on December 16, 1931 in Auburn, NY to the late Paul K. Gates Sr. and Margerite (Sayre) Gates. He graduated from Gouverneur Central School in 1949 and served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. Paul married Grace Laverghetta on April 27, 1957 at St. James Church. He worked as the manager of J.J. Newberry's before beginning his career at CIVES Steel in 1964 as a chief estimator. He retired in 2009. Mr. Gates was a member of the Gouverneur Elks Lodge where he served as former Exalted Ruler and the District Deputy to the Grand Exalted Ruler. He enjoyed fishing and usually caught the biggest fish in the group. He also enjoyed hunting and dancing. He was a great remodeler of homes. He and Grace enjoyed their camp on Sylvia Lake for over 30 years. Paul is survived by his wife of 62 years, Grace; his four children, Deborah Gates Bush, Scott "SG" Gates, Christopher Gates and Marc Gates; five grandchildren, Angela Bush Yocum, Tony Bush, Janine Bush Ganska, Shannon Gates Dempster, Heather Gates Bourdeau; and nine great-grandchildren, James Yocum, Evie Yocum, Dillon Kilmer, Alexia Kilmer, Logan Kilmer, Ella Bourdeau, Tristan Bourdeau, Michael Ganska and Owen Ganska; and a brother, Claude Gates. Donations in memory of Paul may be made to St. Jude's Research Hospital, Box 3704, Memphis TN 38103. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com.