Bates, Bessie L. 1890-1989

BATES, GILMORE, LESTER, HOURIHAN, TARVIN, TISH

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 7/24/2015 at 08:00:34

The Brooklyn (IA) Chronicle
April 1989

BESSIE L. BATES

Bessie L. Bates, 99, of Montezuma, Ia., died April 10, 1989, at Mahaska County Hospital in Oskaloosa, Ia.

She was born February 14, 1890, near Gibson, Ia., the daughter of Joseph Soultz Lester and Sarah Agnes (Gilmore) Lester. She graduated from Gibson High School. On March 21, 1909, she was united in marriage with Benjamin Cecil Bates. To this union fifteen children were born. They farmed most of their life in the Gibson and Deep River area, moving to Montezuma in 1977. In 1979 Bessie joined her husband at the Senior Home. Cecil died Nov. (3)? 1979. She was a long time member of the Gibson United Presbyterian Church, Gibson Ladies Aid, Deep River Legion Auxiliary and Linger Longer Club.

She was preceded by her husband; two daughters Dorothy Bates and Marlene Bates; one son Eugene Bates; one grandson; two sons-in-law and two daughters-in-law.

Bessie is survived by her family: Agnes Hourihan of Oskaloosa, Ronald and Evelyn Bates of Montezuma, Margaret and Raymond Tarvin of Malcom, Gerald Bates of Deep River, Tom Bates of Sigourney, Donald and Elaine Bates of Keswick, Ned Bates of Sigourney, John and Joetta Bates of Deep River, Paul and Linda Bates of What Cheer, Merle and Jean of Fort Worth, Tex., Verla Tish of Gibson and Charlene Bates of Montezuma; 28 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 13, at Watts Funeral Home, Montezuma, Ia. Rev. Kenneth Arentson, United Presbyterian Church, Gibson, Ia., officiated. Verla VanDee was organist and Jerry Minner, soloist.

Casket Bearers were Dan Tish, Doug Tish, Jeff Bates, Leo Tarvin, Dennis Tish, Curtis Bates, Mike Garrett, Ted Bates, Gary Bates, Glen Bates, James Bates, Duane Bates, Steven Bates, Leonard Bates, and Larry Garrett. Interment was in Sixteen Cemetery, Thornburg, Ia. Memorials may be made to Gibson Presbyterian Church.