Beloved Laurie Ann Gates went to be with the Lord on December 9, 2021. She was surrounded by her friends and family at St. Francis Hospital where she worked for 33 years.

Laurie was born in Buffalo, NY on October 22, 1953. Her father was Gordon Gates and mother was Eleanor Nelson. She graduated from Amherst High School in Buffalo in 1971. She then moved to Augusta, Georgia where she graduated from Georgia Medical College in 1975.

Laurie’s kitchen was her favorite restaurant because her cooking was better than most restaurants. She loved people and enjoyed conversation around the table in her cozy home in Simpsonville.

She worked as an Occupational Therapist for 30+ years at St. Francis Hospital System. She specialized in hand injuries. She also helped rehabilitate her patients by speaking into their lives by getting to know their stories, victories, and struggles. She was a blessing to all of her patients.

She leaves behind her two boys, Wayne and Daniel, who currently live in the Greenville area. She was the best mother they could ask for and they were by her side until she left this life. She also leaves behind her sister, Wendy, who currently resides in Boone. Laurie was also a once-in-a-lifetime friend, the kind of friend to where her best friends became part of her family.

She was a woman of Faith who never doubted where she was going or the goodness of God. She never had a complaint, even through her journey with cancer. She was not scared of death and expressed that she had no regrets.

She also kept her sense of humor until the very end, managing to smile and light up the room with her contagious laugh even in the ICU. She will forever be loved and the legacy of her life will be remembered for generations to come.