Patricia A. (Babb) Gates

Calais, Millinocket and Bangor - Our mother, Pat Gates, passed away December 31, 2016. She was born in St. Stephen N.B., Canada, on April 30, 1932, the only daughter of C. Emory and Alma (Cooper) Babb. She lived her life so that when we think of fairness, caring and integrity, we think of her.
Pat graduated with high honors from Calais Memorial H.S. and from Holy Rosary Business School in St. Stephen N.B. Canada, and was then employed at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company before marrying, moving to Millinocket and starting a family. She was the school secretary and "resident mom" to the many children who passed through Granite Street School during her 36 years with the Millinocket School Department. Pat was a past president of, and very active in, the Millinocket Education Association, serving for many years on the negotiations team. She was a former member of the Maine Education Association, Maine Educational Secretaries Association and current member of Maine Retirees Association. Pat was a Sunday school teacher at the First Congregational Church of Millinocket when we were young and an active member of the Women's Fellowship.
She is survived by children, Stephen Gates and Rebecca Boulanger, Sue Clark and Norman, Nancy Grant and Richard, and Jan Davis; grandchildren, Danielle Grant Raymond and Brian, Joshua and Faith Grant, Max and Sarah (Parker) Davis, and Benjamin Davis; sisters-in-law, Frances Grant, Joan Larlee and Viola Babb; special friend and relative, Mary Vesta Marston Scott; and several special nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; her only brother, Philip Babb; sisters-in-law, Margaret MacDonald and Joyce Michaud; and our father, Robert E. Gates.
Memorial services will be held at the Millinocket Cemetery in the spring. Donations in Pat's name may be given to the Salvation Army or the First Congregational Church of Millinocket.