Norman Harley Gates III, lovingly known as "Corky", was born April 17, 1959, in Salisbury, MD.  He was the son of Norman H. Gates, Jr. and Jacqueline M. Gates of Head of Creek RD, Quantico, MD.  At a young age he was formally adopted by his paternal grandparents, Norman and Katie Gates.  On January 1, 2024, in his Randallstown, MD home, he returned to the gift giver and traveled to his eternal home.

Corky was educated in both Wicomico and Dorchester County Public schools.  After graduating in 1978 from Cabridge South Dorchester High School, Corky enlisted in the U. S. Army following up with serving in the National Guard.  After trying his hand at numerous occupations, he found his niche as a tractor trailer driver for Western Express.  He LOVED being a truck driver.  Corky got the biggest thrill out of traveling to different states and being able to share with family and friends the places he saw and the experiences he had.  If he had family living in the state, he was delivering to, he made certain to contact them.

Through his youth he attended St. James Free Methodist Church, participating in Sunday school and the choir.  He was an active member of the Jr. Jubilees Choir.  Corky was the only member that managed to get put out of the choir almost monthly.

He enjoyed hanging out with family.  He was always visiting Uncle Johnny's, Aunt Bootsie's, Uncle Ben and Aunt Emma's, Pete and Doris' Harlan and Hazel's Cousin Lola's, Miss Louemma's, Mr. Herman's.  There wasn't a house on Head Of Creek Rd., that he didn't visit at some point.  Whether to get something to eat or drink or to help in some way.

Corky loved cars especially the mechanics of them.  He was an avid and talented Chess and Backgammon player.  He enjoyed cards, fishing, crabbing and hanging out with his friends.  He was loyal and kind with a boisterous laugh and a giving spirit.   His favorite hobby was spending time with his family and friends.  He made sure to check in with everyone he could.  He was a wealth of knowledge if you wanted to know what was happening with a loved one.

Corky was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Norman and Katie Gates; his maternal grandparents, Ira and Launia Jones; his father, Norman "Junior" Gates; his younger sister, Charlene Gates Hutley; nephews: Tyler Fountain and Brandon Robinson; niece, Taylor (Minnie) Fountain; an aunt, Lillian (Sissy) Elsey; uncle, James (Jimmy) Gates, and aunt, Leila Gates.

Celebrating Corky's life are his sisters: Glendora (Glennie) and Joseph Trower, Veronica (Kay) and Daniel Appleby, Tammara (Tammie) and Larry Simms; a brother, Melvin Eugene (Gene) Riley, and multiple generations of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.