Doris Gates died at her residence at Golden Door on July 10, 2023 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She managed for years dealing with diabetes, blindness, mobility issues however dementia eventually took her from us. She was 85.

 

Doris was born on December 11, 1937 in Vancouver, BC to her parents, Thomas and Deborah Robinson. She grew up in Vancouver. Doris was married to Charles (Chuck) Gibson and had three children, Vincent, Kent and Betty. Eventually there was a divorce though they remained friends most of life.

 

Later she moved ‘up North’ to the Yukon and started work as a hotel maid in Dawson city and in evenings on stage singing at Diamond Tooth Gerties. She met Howie Gates who was working on the beginnings of Clinton Creek mine close by. They married in 1966, and they were together for over fifty years. They had two sons, Stephen and Trefor. They lived in Dawson City, Clinton Creek, Faro and Whitehorse, Yukon, before retiring to Clinton, British Columbia, then a final move to Winnipeg, Manitoba to be closer to family. Wherever she lived, she volunteered to make the community a better place and found many friends along the way. She worked as a barmaid, a bank teller, a hotel manager, a bookkeeper, and gourmet chef. She loved being in contact by phone all the time with friends and family. Also, she especially enjoyed time with 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

 

She is survived by her five children Vincent, Kent, Betty, Stephen and Trefor. She is predeceased by her mother and father; and siblings as well as her husband Howie.

 

Doris chose to be cremated and her ashes to be buried with Howie. There will be a shared celebration of life at Golden Door in a few months but there will also be an individual celebration of life for Doris on August 14, 2023, 1-3 pm, in Clinton, British Columbia at the Legion Hall. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Doris’s life. If you are intending to attend, please let Stephen know at stephen.gates@gmail.com.

 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Diabetes Canada or, even better, go out of your way to help a neighbour as she always would.