Kathleen Proctor Gates

Kathleen Proctor Gates 79, of Duluth, passed away on Saturday September 17, 2022.  She was born on July 21, 1943, to George and Jean Gates.  Kathy received her master’s degree from the University of Nebraska.  She worked at the University of Minnesota Mankato before opening and becoming a partner in the Human Effectiveness Institute. In 1983, she opened the Center for Psychological Health with Katherine Speare.  Kathy moved to Wascott, WI in 1987 and continued her psychology practice in Duluth until 2000 when she embraced her love of coffee, cooking, and her entrepreneurial spirit, co-owning and operating the Railway Expresso Coffee Shop and the Black Iris Art Gallery in Spooner.  Kathy was an active church member at both Christ the King and Messiah Lutheran Churches in Mankato and at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Duluth.  Full of love and expression, she is known as a leader, advocate, mentor and a great friend, impacting so many lives. Most notably, she founded Mankato's Women for Sobriety group, volunteered with the American Cancer Society and the Arrowhead Agency on Aging and was the founder of the Duluth LGBTQ+ Elders Group.  She was passionate about nature in every way, and captured its beauty and essence through her photography. Kathy was a performer. She loved music; singing, playing the guitar, flute and piano.  She was also an accomplished actor and director, acting in many productions, including the lead role in A Little Night Music, and directing the Laramie Project with the Theater in the Woods in Shell Lake, WI. 

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her spouse and life partner of 41 years, Katherine Speare, daughters Kjirsten (Jim) Mickesh, and Kylie Komaridis, grandchildren Taylor, Jeremy, Sophia and Joe, sister Georjean Bailey, nephew Mark (Therese) Bailey, niece Barb Hoffman, and by a spectacular group of friends.

Visitation will be held on Saturday October 22, 2022, from Noon until the 1PM Memorial Service, with a reception to follow, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.  219 N. 6^th Ave. East, Duluth, MN 55805.  The service will also be live streamed at 1PM: http://gloriadeiduluth.org/worship/worship-livestream/. You are invited to wear a scarf in honor of Kathy who loved clothes and had quite a collection of scarves. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 or give.hrc.org.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home 600 E. 2^nd St. Duluth, MN 55805.