Obituary
Obituary
Joel E. Gates
February 13, 1958 – July 9, 2021
Joel ‘Joe’ Edwin Gates passed away peacefully at Vitas Hospice in Mt. Dora, Florida on July 9, 2021, at the age of 63, surrounded by family.
Joel is predeceased by his father, John ‘Jack’ E. Gates (Oneta) and his stepfather, Jerry Riggs of NY. His uncles, Don Gates, Bob Gates, Bill Gates, George Gates, Jimmy Gates, and Gordon Jackson; and his aunts, Pat Elizabeth Gates, and Barbara Gates.
Joel is survived by his mother, Marie Goyette Gates Riggs of FL; his sisters, Cindy Gates (Wayne) Forshee of GA and son, Josh, of TX; Lisa Riggs (Alex) Csiga and daughters, Jessica and Hannah, of NY; Becky Gates of CA; and stepsister Pearl Riggs (John) Granger of NY. His brothers, Alan Gates of FL; Kevin Gates and daughters, Kasey and Kristin, of NY; and stepbrother Arthur (Laura) Riggs of NY. His aunts, Marion (Bill) Ziolkowski of OH; Marjorie Jackson of NY, and many more nieces and nephews.
Joel is lovingly remembered and will be deeply missed by his ex-wife, Debra Blades Gates of NE, his daughters, Susan (John) Burges and son, John, Jr. of NE; Amber LaClaire and daughters, Callie and Mary of SC; April Gates of VA; and Anne (Mike) Crozier and daughter, Holly, of NY.
Joel was born in Syracuse, NY on February 13, 1958, and grew up in the Weedsport and Cato areas, attending Cato High School in Cayuga, County. Then he served in the U.S. Navy in Puerto Rico and Norfolk, VA. He then began his career as a Truck Driver in Virginia for various companies and settled at Peeler Trucking in Mt. Dora, FL for 20 years. When CBs were popular, he went by the handle ‘Sidewinder’. In the past years, he had two loyal pet companions, Riley (dec.) and Dozer now in SC. Joel will be missed by his neighbors for he loved to cook and grill for them, and they loved his cookin’ and grillin’.
A Cremains Memorial Service to be determined later.
Joe would want people to be aware of the disease Amyloidosis to protect themselves and family. And, while you are out and about driving,
“keep it between the ditches”.
Love
Aunt Marion and Uncle Bill