Inez Marjorie Gates, 82

Peacefully on December 19, 2007 at the Riverside Health Centre, Rainy River, ON; Inez M. Gates (nee Mansfield) formerly of Sleeman, ON passed away at the age of 82.
Inez was born July 14, 1925 in Dauphin, Manitoba to the late Walter and Inez (Giles) Mansfield. She moved to Sleeman where she met Harold Milne. They married and raised their 11 children on the farm along the RainyRiver. Inez loved the farm life but often spoke of working at Shady Roost, a resort on the lake in Nestor Falls
Later in life Harold and Inez parted and Inez moved into Rainy River where she continued her career at Arctic Cat Enterprises (sewing factory), where she became supervisor. She was very proud of her accomplishments at the factory. She then met Einar Anderson and they married and eventually moved to Bergland which became her home. She and Einar had a successful family run minnow business. She loved to “chit chat” with the tourists and put her “gift of gab” to good use. Einar encouraged Inez’s love for the outdoors whether it was hunting, gardening or picking blueberries, spending most of their time together outside.
After Einar passed away Inez stayed at her home in Bergland until she married Ray Gates. They moved to the home they have now. She continued to enjoy her gardening and birds with Ray. Inez enjoyed spending time with her family and she was never too busy to plan a family get together. She had the ability to enjoy the important things in life, like family and friends. She always had an open ear and never judged anyone. She was a friend to all. The one thing she carried throughout her whole life and she will be remembered for is her love for music. She learned to play the fiddle at the age of five and often told the story, there wasn’t an instrument she couldn’t play or a song she wouldn’t sing.
Inez and Ray spent many an hour singing and reminiscing. Ray was her Guardian Angel and supported her through the years as she dealt with her depleting health, and now she is a Guardian Angel to Ray and all of us.
Inez will be lovingly remembered by her husband Ray; son Melvin (Lorraine) Milne; daughters, Elsie (Matt) Gerula, June Holmes, Alice (John) Blixt, Linda (Morgan) Stewart, Susan (Ed) St. Pierre, Connie (Allan) Stewart, Mary Ann (William) Olson, Inez Joy Milne and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, sister Charity Scott, and many nieces and nephews.
Inez was predeceased by her parents, her son Harold Jr, daughter Kathleen, and husband Einar Anderson, brother Phillip, sisters Mary, Edna and Betty.
As per Inez’s wishes no funeral service will take place. Family and friends gathered at her residence on Sunday December 23, 2007 to celebrate Inez’s Life.
If desired memorial donations may be made to the Riverside Health Care Facility, P.O. Box 236, Rainy River, ON P0W 1L0
Online condolences may be left at www.northridgefuneralhome.com