Alice M. Gates

Alice M. Gates passed away on January 1, 2014, at Genesis Healthcare The Pines in Easton, MD. She was 92 years old. Born to the late Frank and Minnie Gates on November 27, 1921, Alice was one of five daughters who grew up on a small dairy farm in Muskegon, MI. She graduated from high school at the age of 16, after spending eight early grades attending a one-room schoolhouse, the Maple Ridge School in Muskegon. In 2004, at the age of 83, Alice established an endowment fund through the Community Foundation for Muskegon County for the long-term restoration and maintenance of that Maple Ridge Historic School Building. In 1942, Alice began a 36-year career with the Federal Government with her first assignment as a G-2 Clerk Typist with the U.S. Army. She later held posts at the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy. The majority of her career was spent supporting systems analysts with the implementation and design of government computer systems which required travel to Army, DOD and U.S. Navy installations all over the United States and also some trips abroad. In 1958, Alice accepted a two-year assignment at a U.S. Army Facility located in Orleans/Poitier, France, in support of U.S. forces in Africa and Europe.During this time she traveled widely throughout the area, visiting Germany, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, and several other countries. She attended the 1958 Brussels World Fair, telling everyone she met that she was proud to be serving her country overseas. During the last year of her career with the Government, Alice was sent on a ten-day trip to Iran, relating to the sale of U.S. Helicopters to that country. She traveled via London and Rome, spending a week in each city to celebrate the close of her career. During the last year of her career with the Government, Alice was sent on a ten-day trip to Iran, relating to the sale of U.S. Helicopters to that country. She traveled via London and Rome, spending a week in each city to celebrate the close of her career. Alice was a sports enthusiast throughout her life. She bowled and played basketball, golf and softball. From 1943 to 1945, she was a distinguished fastball pitcher with the Army Signal Corps/ Philadelphia Girl’s Industrial League and was awarded the Player of The Year Award in 1944 by the Philadelphia Record Newspaper. For this honor, Alice received a softball signed by Connie Mack and Herb Pennock, managers of the Philadelphia Athletics and Philadelphia Phillies Baseball teams at the time, and a prized Player’s Jacket that has been on display at Big Bats Cafe in Stevensville, MD, for many years. Alice cherished these items, and they will be donated, in her honor, to the U.S. Women’s Softball Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, OK. Alice spent her retirement years at her home on the water in Chester, MD, before a decline in her health required a move to William Hill Manor in Easton. She enjoyed boating and crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay. She stayed busy volunteering for several Queen Anne’s County senior citizen organizations and was a Lifetime Member of the Queen Anne’s County Commission on Aging, serving two terms as Commission President. Until the time of her passing, Alice maintained active membership in N.A.R.F.E. and provided ongoing financial support to numerous local and national charities. Alice is survived by her two nieces, Nancy Kubon and Debra Jenson, and a nephew, Scott Kubon, all of Muskegon, MI. Along with her parents, Alice was predeceased by her four sisters, Beatrice Gates, Phyllis Gates, Virginia Martin and Evelyn Kubon. A Memorial Service will be held at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home in Chester, MD, on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at 3:00 p.m., where friends may gather an hour before. Burial will be private at Laketon Township Cemetery, Muskegon, MI at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Queen Anne’s County Department of Aging, or the Maple Ridge School Fund of the Muskegon County, Michigan. Online condolences may be made at www.fhnfuneralhome.com

Alice M. Gates

November 27, 1921 - January 1, 2014