John "Bill" Gates Jr

John W. Gates, Jr. "Bill", 48, of Lafayette Road, Marlborough, CT passed away on Friday, January 3, 2014 at Hartford Hospital. Bill was born on September 21, 1965 in Hartford, CT, the son of John and Louise Gates. Bill loved all sports. He was an excellent baseball and soccer player. He was also an avid Red Sox and Giants fan and a great friend to all who knew him. He will be especially missed by his beloved dog, Zoey. He is survived by his mother Louise Gates, his sister Marcia Watterlond and her husband Jeffrey of Oakdale; his nephew John Watterlond and niece Alyssa Peckham and husband Gordon; his daughter Rhiannon Gates and the love of his life, his fiancAC.e Keri Shipman. He was predeceased by his father, John W. Gates, Sr. His family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday Jan. 7, 2014 between 2:00pm and 4:00pm at Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195), Willimantic. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10:00am at St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St., Willimantic. Interment will follow at 11:45 in St. Mary Cemetery, New London. In lieu of flowers, his family suggests donations to Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675, www.woundedwarriorproject.org . For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .