Eva Margaret Gates

Eva Margaret Gates (nee Morash) – 86, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Eva passed away July 12, 2019 at the Halifax Infirmary with close family by her side. Born in Windsor, Nova Scotia to Gordon and Daisy Morash, she was raised on the family farm. Eva was an excellent student, winning a number of prizes in high school. She completed a secretarial course after high school and started work at G.W. Bartlett Lumber Exporters. In 1956 she met a young Engineer, William (Bill) Gates, on a blind date. They fell in love and were married on May 17, 1958. They made their home in Hantsport where Eva realized her dream of having a family and devoted herself to being a loving wife and mother full-time. In 1970, they left quiet rural life for Halifax where they settled into their long-time family home amongst a great group of neighbours on “the hill”. Eva was a consummate entertainer who loved to cook and bake. Her childrens’ birthday cakes were works of art and her chocolate chip cookies were known around the neighbourhood. Though she suffered from Parkinson’s disease for a number of years and was unable to eat solid food for the last year of her life, she would still whip up a batch of muffins or a celebratory cake for family. She was happy just to share a meal with the people she loved. Eva had a wonderful sense of style, evidenced by the way she decorated her home and by the way she dressed. She was an excellent seamstress and made beautiful clothes for herself and for her children, until they decided homemade were not as “cool” as store-bought. She loved music and enjoyed attending musicals, whether in New York, London’s West End, or closer to home at Neptune Theatre. She held season tickets to Symphony Nova Scotia for over 25 years and made many donations to the organization in that time. Her favourite place to vacation in the winter was Barbados, which she enjoyed until she was unable to travel. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Bill; daughter, Marilee MacKay (Rick); son, Andrew Gates (Tanya); granddaughter, Julianna Gates; grandson, Dylan Gates; sisters, Marion Watts, Eleanor Duncanson; brothers, Beverly Morash (Jacoba), Harold Morash, Ralph Morash; nieces, Brenda van DerBeenes, Sandra Watts Wilson (Colin), Marianne Pers (Joey); nephews, Ernest Watts (Kathy), Thomas Watts (Pam), Greg Morash (Nancy), Brian Morash (Tracey), Michel Morash. She is predeceased by a brother, Eddie.

Visitation will be held at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, N.S, Friday, July 19, 2019, 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be held at St. James Anglican Church, 2668 Joseph Howe Drive, Halifax, Saturday, July 20, 2019 at 2 p.m. Reverend Michael Conrad and Reverend Rod Gillis Officiates. Memorial donations can be made to Parkinson Canada or a charity of your choice. The Family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the Infirmary, Ward 7.3 for their compassion and support in Eva’s last days.