Mary Lenora Bailey Gates1916 - 2016Mary Lenora Bailey Gates, known to her friends as "Nick" and "Smiley", peacefully passed away on November 29, 2016, at the age of 100, in Hillsboro, Texas, under the loving care of the staff at Town Hall Estates. Mary was born on July 18, 1916, in Birmingham, Alabama to Florence (Tyler) Wear and Lorenzo Wear. One of 14 siblings, she spent her childhood in Jefferson County, Alabama. On October 31, 1936, Mary married James Ottis Bailey, who retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer after a career in the United States Navy. In 1940, they moved to Navy Point, Pensacola, where she lived for the next sixty years, and where they raised their four daughters Janice Bailey Hanes (husband Brooks), Linda Bailey French (husband Jim), Catherine Bailey Trowbridge (husband Ernest), and Robin Bailey Daniel (husband Tim). She was especially proud that her four daughters all married Navy and Marine Corps pilots, and she loved her sons-in-law as her own. She was a longtime member of Warrington Baptist Church, where she was involved in Young at Heart. She was active with the Fleet Reserve, and she enjoyed dances at the American Legion, trips to Biloxi, and time spent with her grandchildren on Pensacola Beach. She was predeceased by her husband James. Later in life, she fell in love with Fred M. "Buddy" Gates, to whom she was married until his death in 1998. She was also predeceased by her daughters Linda Bailey French and Catherine Bailey Trowbridge.She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law Janice and Brooks Hanes, of Hillsboro, Texas, Robin and Tim Daniel, of Missouri City, Texas, and her sons-in-law Jim French of Corvallis, Oregon, and Ernest Trowbridge of The Villages, Florida. She is also survived by her eleven grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Mary will be remembered as a loving mom and grandma and faithful servant of Jesus Christ.A graveside service will be held on Sunday, December 4, at 2:00 p.m. at Bayview Memorial Park.BAYVIEW FISHER-POU CHAPEL, 3351 Scenic Highway is entrusted with arrangements.Condolences may be offered at www.bayviewfisher-pouchapel.com.Express your condolences in our guestbook at pnj.com/obits