Marie Gates Renner

Marie Lynoor Gates went home to be with her Heavenly Father on July 14, 2022. She was born on September 18, 1930 in Buffalo, New York to Father William Gates Jr. and Mother Ethel Walz. Along with her parents she is predeceased by her brother Richard Gates.

On April 1, 1950 Marie married Preston George Renner and they spent 37 wonderful years together before Preston’s passing. They lived in East Syracuse, New York and later settled in Clay, New York and had three daughters and one son. 

Marie is survived by her children, Lynne Renner, Susan Pikarsky (Michael), David Renner and Gail Piger (Harold). Marie has five grandchildren: Brett Pikarsky (Cassie), David Pikarsky (Claire), Kiersten Gaunt Pikarsky (Steven), Hannah Hatch Piger (Luke) and Joshua Piger. These five grandchildren and her great grandchildren were her “pride and joy”; her love never waivered for her family, every one precious to her. Affectionately, Marie was known to her grandchildren as Mimi or Nani and to daughters, son and close friends as “Spanky. 

In her early married years Marie was a member of Fremont Baptist Church in East Syracuse, New York and later became a member of the North Syracuse Baptist church. Marie served faithfully as the head cook in the kitchen where she made meals every Wednesday night before prayer meetings. She also baked and catered for numerous events such as weddings, Sunday School gatherings and holiday events.

Marie loved to cook and bake; making everything from soup to bread and cookies to caramels or butter crunch she was always ready to make something homemade. Christmas time was particularly busy as people were eager to purchase cookie and candy trays.

On Sunday mornings you could find Marie in church preparing to play the piano or the organ for church services. She and late husband Preston also sang duets on multiple occasions. Other ministries that Marie served in were Pioneer Girls and vacation Bible school where she enjoyed ministering to young girls and was a mother figure to many; she was admired and loved by all.

Marie loved to entertain. She hosted parties at home for Sunday School groups and youth groups and enjoyed feeding anyone who would come. Her son and daughters always had friends at the house and this of course, gave Marie another reason to cook or bake. 

Marie also loved the outdoors. Every summer she had many flower beds and also a grand vegetable garden. You could always find a roadside stand open in front of the house displaying her green thumb. Not to be forgotten, Marie enjoyed camping at good ol’ Lewey Lake where the family went every summer; site #206. 

Marie was a great sport. Through “thick and thin” she always had a great sense of humor and had a most wonderful outlook on life. She taught her family how to have faith in God and serve him with an open and willing heart and also taught many life skills such as how to clean, bake, cook, sew, garden, how to be forgiving, how to be a good friend and how to show love to others through serving ministries.

Family and friends are grateful for the 91 years that Marie lived and the time they shared with her. Hymns of Marie’s faith played daily in her room making her trust in God evident to those who cared for her daily. Her family, and those who cared for her, were blessed to be by her side in her final days at the time she went to be with Jesus. Those who surrounded Marie with their love are rejoicing for her testimony of her faith in God that she passed on to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. 

One of Marie’s passions was for her and her children to make gift boxes for “Operation Christmas Child” at Christmas time; she taught her family the importance of giving to those in need. She will be happy to know that donations on her behalf are being sent to such a worthy and Godly cause.

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