Deborah Ann (Leach) Bates, 81, of East Bridgewater, MA and West Yarmouth, MA passed away peacefully on November 29,2023. Born to the late Thomas and Miriam Leach in Brockton on July 20,1942. Debbie was raised in East Bridgewater and graduated from East Bridgewater High School in 1960. She attended the Chandler School for Women and graduated in 1962 before marrying Frederick Bates. They lived briefly together in Seattle, WA before moving to Hampden, MA and eventually settled into their home in West Yarmouth, MA where Debbie remained for several years. In 2016 she relocated to Sandwich, MA to be closer to her grandchildren who frequently enjoyed sleeping over and staying up late playing board games with her.
For several years Debbie was a devoted medical secretary and an office manager to a group of doctors in Hyannis, MA. She enjoyed welcoming everyone with a smile and her warm personality earned her several wonderful friendships over the years. She was an avid shopper and loved traveling to Disney with her family, which she did more than 10 times.
Debbie is survived by the family she cherished; her two children, Patricia Ann (Bates) Gill and her husband John of East Sandwich, MA and Gregory Bates of Rochester, MA; her three grandchildren that she loved endlessly, Connor, Ryan and Megan Gill of East Sandwich, MA. She was also survived by her brother David Leach and his wife Ginger of South Carolina and their two daughters who she adored Barbara Carreira and her husband Nick and Nancy Centrella and her husband Tony of Uxbridge, MA. She is also survived by Emily & Sami who she loved as family for their entire lives, and many great nieces and nephews, Shannon, Nicholas, Lindsey and Abby and great great nephew, Trevor and great great niece Mariah.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to The Alzheimer's Association.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday December 6th from 2-4pm and 5-7pm at Nickerson Bourne Funeral Home on 6A in Sandwich. A service will be held the following morning at 10:00 am at the funeral home. The burial will be private.
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