Sarah Ellen

Bates

Sarah E. (White) Bates of Lancaster, New Hampshire died peacefully on November 9, 2026 at The Morrison Nursing Home with family by her side after a period of failing health.

Sarah was born in Portland, Maine on January 19, 1956 to Paul A. White and Eleanor (Gardner) White. She lived in Yarmouth, Maine until 1960 when she and her family moved back to Lancaster, New Hampshire where she lived until moving to Bristol, New Hampshire later in life. Sarah graduated from WMRHS in 1974 and then received her Bachelor's Degree in Human Services from Springfield College. She worked for several years at Northern Human Services and then for an agency in the Lakes Region after moving to Bristol. After retirement, Sarah moved to Maine and remained there until 2025 when she moved back to Lancaster to be near family. She also worked most recently at Reny's in Damariscotta until her health forced her to retire.

She always loved going to the ocean and spent many summer vacations at Wells Beach with family. When she moved to Maine, she lived for a time on the island of Vinalhaven and then moved to various small towns that were never far from the ocean and she finally settled in Damariscotta.

She loved being around her friends and family and will always be remembered for her generosity and kindness to all who knew her.

Sarah is predeceased by her husband, Michael Bates, her parents, and several aunts and uncles. She is survived by her companion, Jerry Gilman. She is also survived by her four siblings: Richard White and his wife, Sandra of Murphy, North Carolina, Gary White and his companion, Nancy Cusson of Berlin, New Hampshire, Rosemary Carter and her husband, Clifford "Kip" Carter of Dalton, New Hampshire, and Arthur White of Lancaster, New Hampshire. She also has several nephews and nieces: Allan White of Hopkinton, New Hampshire, Andrew White and his wife, Yuliya of Fairport, New York, Nicole White of Ashland, New Hampshire, Graham White and his wife, Sara, of Brooklyn, New York, and Shannon White of Brooklyn, New York, and great nieces and nephews: Kevin White, Jenna White, Luke White, and Parker White.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Morrison Nursing Home for the Resident Activities Fund or to North Country Home Health and Hospice. We would like to thank all the staff of The Morrison Nursing Home for the excellent care they gave Sarah while she was a resident there. We would also like to thank the nurses and staff at North Country Healthcare and Hospice for their excellent care and kindness to Sarah during her last days.

A time of visitation will be held on June 12, 2027 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Bailey Funeral Home. A Graveside Service will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Lancaster, New Hampshire immediately following visitation. Bailey Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.