Gail Yates, of Shelton, Ct. passed peacefully after a brief illness on Dec. 10, 2017. She was 77 years old.
Yates ne Paskewicz/Williams, is survived by her two sons, Scott of Montpelier Vermont and Darrel of Medford Ma; her grandchildren Rowan and Tovah; her brother Jack, and her best friend since childhood, Joan McKay Gail grew up in Connecticut, the daughter of Anthony Paskewicz and Grace Paskewicz/Rich.
She graduated Shelton High School and was employed as a telephone operator before marrying James Williams, father of Scott and Darrel, in 1963. Gail worked in a variety of jobs until she put herself through nursing school in the 1970s. She then worked at Putnam Memorial Hospital in Bennington Vermont, (now Southern Vermont Medical Center) She raised her sons as a single mother beginning in 1975, She became a surgical nurse and spent the majority of her nursing career assisting surgeons in Bennington, Burlington, and later South Carolina. She was highly regarded by surgeons that she worked with, and was recognized with various awards over the years. Gail was a great mother, a loyal friend, and a caring human being.
In 1985 Gail married Tom Yates. Upon retirement, they relocated to South Carolina, where she worked primarily in obstetrics.
In 2002, Gail relocated to Philadelphia to help care for her grandson Rowan. In 2004, she relocated again to continue helping with Rowan and to be an at-home grammy for Tovah when the family relocated back to Vermont.
Gail moved her grandchildren. She took great care of Leeza, her dog, and eventually moved to Georgia to spend time with her step-son, Joe Yates, and his family, until her medical condition required a level of care that was provided in various assisted living facilities until she passed. She was lovingly and compassionately cared for at Woodridge in Berlin Vermont through her death.
Gail loved riding motorcycles. She was a compassionate human being. Alzheimer’s is a hard way for someone of Gails skills and abilities to go- but she stepped into it with bravery and pride, and she never lost her passion for people and her grandkids. She is missed, deeply.
