Nancy Lee Gates

Nancy Lee McFarlane Gates, age 86, passed away on January 17, 2024. She was born in Boise, Idaho on December 21, 1937. She was the youngest of three children born to Ralph and Mary McFarlane.

At the age of 5, her family moved from Boise to Twin Falls, Idaho. She was a student at St. Edward’s Catholic School and graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1956. She began her college education at the College of Saint Mary-of-the-Wasatch in Salt Lake City. After two years, she moved to Pocatello and attended Idaho State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education. It was at ISU that she met the love of her life, Arthur, and they were married on June 25, 1966 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Twin Falls, Idaho. Their married life took them to homes in Pocatello, Pierce and American Falls, Idaho. They finally settled in Pocatello after retiring.

She truly loved being an elementary school teacher and taught in schools in Nevada as well as the Idaho towns of Naples, Weippe and Pocatello in the 1970’s, 80s and 90’s. She retired from teaching upon completion of over 20 years of dedicated service as the media specialist at Irving Junior High School in 1997.

After retiring, Nancy filled her time with hobbies and travel. She could always be found in her sewing room creating extraordinary works of art in her quilt tops and looked forward to attending quilting conventions with a group of friends. She and Arthur also enjoyed taking the boat out on the American Falls Reservoir and other bodies of water in Idaho. Travels took them to Europe several times and one trip to Guam. She also filled her time baking and selling dessert breads at local farmer’s markets. She had a lifelong love of singing and had a beautiful soprano voice. She discovered a new love of mocha coffee on her last birthday.

Nancy had a great sense of humor and her contagious laugh would fill a room.

The long goodbye due to Alzheimer’s became markedly evident about 5 years ago, so she and Art moved to Brookdale Senior Living in Chubbuck. While there, the staff took great care of them. She is survived by her daughter Kathleen Gates and two grandsons Adam and Andrew Durante. Her dear husband, daughter Bridget Durante, parents and siblings Phyllis “San” Kollar and Ralph McFarlane preceded her in passing.

The family would like to acknowledge the loving care and support provided by Brookdale Senior Living in Chubbuck and Heritage Hospice and Home Health.

The family invites all to a vigil that will be held on Friday, January 26, 2023 from 4:30-6:30 at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Rd, Chubbuck, ID. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, January 27, 2023 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Chapel, 455 N. Hayes, Pocatello, ID. Burial will take place at the Mountain View Cemetery followed by a luncheon at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Hall, 524 N 7th Ave, Pocatello, ID. Cards to write memories or stories of Nancy and Art for the family will be available.

The family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association to help find a cure for this scourge (donations can be made at http://act.alz.org/goto/Nancy_Gates). They also request that if you have a loved one or a friend with Alzheimer’s or know someone who resides in an assisted living/long term care facility, to please visit them often.

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