Robert E. Gately

ROBERT E. GATELY

AUBURNDALE, Naval Chief Petty Officer Robert E. Gately, 64, died Sept. 19, 2018, at home here, after suffering from cancer. Mr. Gately died peacefully in his sleep, with Debbie, his wife of 41 years by his side.
'Bob' was born May 24, 1954 to Joan M. (Nelson) Teal in Troy, N.Y., where he also graduated high school.
He enlisted in the Navy and studied as a Cryptology Technician at Great Lakes, Ill. Among his many duty assignments were Pensacola, Guam, Puerto Rico, The Azores and Key West. Bob liked to point out, 'In 23 years in the Navy and I've never been on a ship!' Actually his highly skilled training was recognized upon retirement, when the Honeywell International Corp. engaged Bob as its sole representative contractor. Uncle Sam created this position as a GS-12 Civil Service appointment, thanks to Bob's assignment.
While at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Bob met Debbie, assigned there as a Navy WAVE. After a year-long courtship the couple were wed July 16, 1977 in Troy. They later served together in Guam. Following her discharge, their son Kenneth Charles Brough Gately was born Dec. 15, 1980, in Ceiba, Puerto Rico.
Bob was predeceased by his mother Joan this past January.
Among the service organizations he joined was the American Legion, and especially the Loyal Order of the Moose, of which he spent two terms as governor of the Key West Lodge. He obtained the Moose Legion Degree of Service, and was on the Council of Higher Degree, as well as being Member Of League Guardians. Bob was also invited as a member of MENSA.
Besides wife Debbie and son Ken, survivors include daughter-in-law 1st Lt. Nancy Gately, USAF, and his grandchildren Gabrielle and Kenneth Gately; sister Sherrie (Ron) Lovelass and their son Jeff (Meredith) Lovelass and their three children; sister Nancy Gately, her husband Dan Shay, their children Jessica and Daniel Shay, all of New York; Uncle Richard Nelson of Virginia; sisters-in-law Hope Bradford, Carole Trott, Doris Trott, brother-in-law Bill Trott; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, with Pastor Kenny Hughes officiating, at Lena Vista Baptist Church, 213 Florida Drive, Auburndale. Interment with military honors at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery will be scheduled at a later date.