Elizabeth Ann Lee Gates passed away June 21, 2022 with her children by her side.
Liz was born in March 1937 in Youngstown, OH and was raised on a farm in Western Pennsylvania, where she developed her lifelong love of animals, especially horses and dogs, as well as her beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.
After graduating from Derry Township High School in 1955, Liz joined the U.S. Air Force and was a pioneering member of the Women’s Air Force (WAF) as it was known then. While in the Air Force, Liz was stationed at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany where she competed on the base’s women’s basketball team.
After the Air Force, Liz settled in Orlando, FL to raise her children. She held many jobs mainly in the hotel industry as an auditor and she even worked at Walt Disney World prior to the park being opened to the public. Away from work, Liz played women’s softball and coached girl’s youth softball.
Liz was preceded in death by her mother: AnnaBelle Watkins and her grandfather: Chester Lee Uncapher, both of Indiana, PA.
Liz is survived by her daughter Laura Carter, her fiancé Brian Davison and granddaughter Jensen of Maitland, FL; her daughter Kathy Gates, her partner Vernon Snead and granddaughter Kara Randall of Longmont, CO; her son Victor Gates, his spouse Gillian and granddaughters Megan and Jessica of Attleboro, MA; and her son William “Bill” Gates of Orlando, FL.
Liz also had many friends, in particular the neighborhood seniors’ group, with whom she enjoyed hanging out in the pool, as well as playing cards and dominoes at church senior nights.