Our favorite mermaid, Laura, 65, passed away peacefully while surrounded by family members near and dear to her heart.
She was born in New York, New York, to loving parents William James Condy and Margaret Ann Pfeifauf Condy, who wisely moved the family to Port St. Lucie, Florida, in 1961 so Laura and her siblings could play outside year-round.
A lifeguard and competitive swimmer, she graduated from Fort Pierce Central High School in 1971 and the University of Florida (UF) in 1975 where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. While at UF, she met the love of her life, John, whom she married in 1974. After graduation, she relocated to Fort Pierce, Florida, where she worked at Fort Pierce Memorial Hospital and for a local urologist until she voluntarily sacrificed her career to be a devoted mother to her daughter in 1981. The family moved to Vero Beach in 1989.
Once her daughter was in high school, Laura landed her dream job: working as a “shoe dog” at Dillard’s, and later, Kemp’s, where she spent much of her salary on an ever-expanding shoe collection envied by many.
After a brief excursion to the “frigid north” of Lakeland, Florida, and Rockledge, Florida, Laura retired to Jensen Beach, Florida, with her husband and favorite pirate, John.
Fiercely loving and loyal, Laura loved swimming, snorkeling, and soaking up the sun in tropical locales; enjoying food and wine in the good company of family and friends; perfecting crafty decorations for her home; and life’s simple satisfactions such as finished crosswords and clean living spaces.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 44 years, John Koplin Gates; her daughter, Carly Lynn Gates (Michael O’Neal) of West Palm Beach, Florida; her sister Sharon Ann Nungester (Ronald Nungester) of Berwyn, Pennsylvania; and her brothers Bruce Ian Condy of Port St. Lucie, Florida, and Neil James Condy (Sara Stout) of West Palm Beach, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Treasure Coast Food Bank, 401 Angle Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34947, or a charity of your choice.
The family will receive friends at their home from 5 to 7 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2019.