Barrett L. GatesAge: 78 • Morrisville, NYBarrett L. Gates, 78, of Westview Rd., Patriarch of the Gates family, passed away January 20, 2017 at University Hospital, Syracuse surrounded by his loving family and friends.He was born on July 5, 1938 in Burlington, VT a son of the late Maurice and Barbara Fisher Gates. After graduating from high school in Vermont, Barrett attended and graduated from The University of Vermont and The University of Maine where he studied forestry. He served in the United States Army Reserve for over 43 years attaining the rank of Colonel before retiring. In June of 1966, Barrett married Claire Audette, who predeceased him on May 7, 1980. He later married Jacquelyne L. (Dunbar) Hopkins in Morrisville on October 8, 1995. He started his career in Forestry before becoming a Professor of Environmental Sciences at Morrisville State College from 1970 until his retirement in 1999. "The Colonel" as he was known, loved the outdoors, especially spending time in the woods hunting and fishing. He also was an avid Boston Red Sox and New York Giants fan. The Colonel possessed a tremendous passion for golf and was a member of the Barker Brook Golf Club for over 40 years where he had many friends and will be truly missed.Surviving are his loving family whom he enjoyed spending time with, His wife Jackie, his children, Timothy Gates and Shannon Coy of Clinton; Stephen Gates and Joe Ranjel of Arlington, TX; Jeffrey Gates and Carmen Reyes of Morrisville; Jamie and Greg Maistros of Norwich; Jason Hopkins of El Paso, TX; Melissa Hopkins of Baltimore, MD; Melanie and Rob Darr of Pittsburg, PA, seven grandchildren, two nephews. He was predeceased by a brother Michael Gates.Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 11:00 am from the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 31 Cedar St., Morrisville, NY. Interment will be held in the spring in the Morrisville Rural Cemetery. Friends are invited and may call on Tuesday from 4 to 7 pm at the funeral home.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the .To send a condolence and sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.Visit burlingtonfreepress.com/obituaries to Express condolences and sign the guest book.