Alan passed away after a long and challenging battle with lung disease which included a lung transplant at the Toronto General Hospital.
Born in Petite Riviere, he was the eldest son of Atwood and Greta (Croft) Gates. Alan attended Hebbville High School, and completed Carpentry at Lunenburg Regional Vocational School (LRVS) in Bridgewater. His carpentry skills came in handy throughout the years, but his true passion was cooking.
Alan's career was broad and colourful. Aboard the Gulf Canada tankers he travelled to all corners of the world, including the Canadian Arctic, Antarctica, the Mediterranean, as well as many other ports of call. He moved from working as a cabin steward up to find himself in the galley cooking for the crews. After completing his adventures abroad, Alan chose to focus on his cooking skills. He worked for restaurants in both Halifax and Bridgewater. One of his favourites was working at the Heidelberg in Halifax, where he enjoyed preparing German cuisine.
In 1985, Alan met the love of his life, Janette, and together they moved back to Petite Riviere to raise their family. He worked at varied positions at ABCO, Michelin, Sobey's, Village Nursery and Bowater throughout the remainder of his years.
Alan was punctual. He may have arrived late at birth, but has been on time, or preferably early ever since.
Alan had a big heart and was quick to help anyone in need. He was community minded. He was a long time member of the Petite Riviere Volunteer Fire Department, and a Cubs / Beavers / Scouts Leader for the local chapters.
Alan had a broad and varied network of friends who loved and cherished him for who he was. He loved a good yarn, and spun a good tale, which could get him in to trouble from time to time.
Alan was an avid hunter, and so looked forward to deer season each year. The rest of time was filled with dropping in to see good friends and spending time with his grandsons. He loved driving the back roads of Nova Scotia with Janette, tending to his garden (especially his garlic patch), tapping maple trees, bottle collecting and a good game of cards. His passion for cooking continued, which we enjoyed during cookouts at the beach and family get togethers. Alan's lasagne was legendary in taste and size.
Sadly Alan developed lung disease, which became crippling to completing daily tasks. His diagnosis took him and Janette to Toronto as he was enrolled in the Lung Transplant Program at the Toronto General Hospital. The care he received while on this journey was excellent. In the "concrete jungle" of Toronto he met some of the nicest people, both in and outside of the transplant program. He really enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow transplant members / spouses and his "exercise' group.
Alan loved his family fiercely, and is survived by his wife
Janette (Hawkesworth), his children; Cindy (Andy) Owens, Joseph
(Alissa) Gates, and Ashley (Matt) Elliott, and his grandsons; Xander,
Morgan, Jaden, Jeffery, Logan, Joshua and Jeremy. He is also survived
by his siblings; Albina Nowe, Ann Veinotte, Peggy Gates Webster,
Darryn Gates and Thomas Gates, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by; his father Atwood Gates, mother Greta
Gates, step father Marshall Publicover, father in law Jim (Caleb)
Hawkesworth, mother in law Ida May Hawkesworth, brothers in law Parker
Hawkesworth, Jimmy Hawkesworth, Murray Nowe and niece Vikki
Nowe.
A celebration of life will be held at the Wesley United Church in Petite Riviere on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 2:00 PM. All are welcome with a reception to follow in the church hall.
The family extends a sincere thank you to Dr John Jenkins (GP), Dr Chaisson (Respirologist) and her team in Halifax, and the Lung Transplant Program Team at the Toronto General Hospital, as well as the Toronto General Rehab facility.
His final wish granted, his body was accepted to Dalhousie University Department of Medical Neuroscience.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local Lung Association or Wesley United of Petite Riviere.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the R.A. Corkum Funeral Home, Wileville, where on-line condolences may be made by visiting www.corkumfuneralhome.ca
If you wish to watch the service on-line, click on the link below.