Miriam P. Gates, 91, of Woodlawn Nursing Home in Newport, formerly of
Sunapee Cove Assisted Living in Georges Mills and a longtime resident of
Riverview Park currently James Street in Charlestown, died Wednesday
morning, August 15, 2007 at the New London Hospital.

She was born in Pittsfield, ME on April 7, 1916 the daughter of Herbert L.
and Myrtie (Hanson) Palmer.

She graduated from Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, ME and received
her Bachelor of Arts Degree in music and education from the New England
Conservatory of Music in Boston.  She resided in Charlestown most of her
life and taught in the Charlestown School system after college.

She was the organist at several churches in the Charlestown and Claremont
area for many years and also gave piano and organ lessons.

Miriam was a member of the Women's Club, the sewing Club, and the School
Board all in Charlestown and was an avid bridge player in Charlestown and
Springfield.  She enjoyed sports, especially the Red Sox's and followed her
children and grandchildren to nearly every game they were in.  She also
enjoyed traveling and going to the family cottage and fishing for many years
at Crystal Lake in Enfield Center, NH.

She was the widow of Hesslar Howell Gates whom she married on July 5, 1941
and he died Dec. 19, 1987.

The surviving family includes two daughters, Nancy E. Smith of Charlestown
and Susan C. Wertkin and her husband Robert of Vicksburg, MI; two sons,
Hesslar P. Gates and his wife, Rosemary of Sunapee and John B. Gates and his
wife, Jane Haley of Claremont;  five grandchildren; Sol and Shayna Wertkin,
Robert and Rebecca Gates and Abraham Gates; one great-granddaughter; Mia
Gates; one sister-in-law, Alice Wright of Palm Harbor, Fl.  She was
predeceased by three sisters and one grandson, Tyler Anthony Gates who died
in 2004.

Friends may call at the Charlestown Memorial Chapel, 34 Main Street on
Friday evening from 6 to 8 PM.

Funeral services will be held Saturday morning, August 18th at Eleven
O'clock in the North Charlestown United Methodist Church with Pastor
Priscilla Hull, officiating.

Interment will follow in Pine Crest Cemetery.

The family suggest that donations may be made in her memory to D.E.B.R.A. of
America, Inc., 5 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018 (www.debra.org).