Rev. Mark Faughn officiated at the services. Burial followed in Menser Cemetery in Dawson Springs.
Mr. Bates died on Tuesday, August 22, 2006, at 12:25 a.m., in Lourdes Hospital in Paducah following a long illness.
Mr. Bates was born on July 17, 1921, in Birmingham, Ala. He was the son of the late Dewey John and Lula Mae Tidwell Bates.
Mr. Bates was a retired, self-employed Grocery Store Owner.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his 1st wife, Ruth Farmer Bates; two sons, Johnny Ray Bates and Mark Allen Bates; three brothers; and three sisters.
Survivors include his wife, Willie Katherine Farmer Bates of Dawson Springs; three sons, William Wayne Bates of Dawson Springs, Robert Earl Bates of Marion, and Boyd Bates of Fredonia; three daughters, Leda Mae Martin of Livingston County, Brenda Sigler of Gilbertsville, and Joyce Bates of Fredonia; three step-sons, James David Flick of Lake City, Fla., Larry Joe Flick of Fredonia, and Benny Ray Flick of Providence; a step-daughter, Dora Coones of Dawson Springs; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; and several step-great-grandchildren.
His grandsons served as pallbearers.
