Gladys Ernestine Bates, age 86, of Oak Ridge, passed away Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014, at Summit View Health Care Center in Knoxville.
She was born April 1, 1927, in Hatchechubbee, Ala., the daughter of Mattie Bell King and Harry Perry.
Mrs. Bates retired from the Oak Ridge Hospital, where she worked in the dietary department. She was a member of Oak Valley Baptist Church. She was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening and cooking.
She was preceded in death by husband Bill Bates and son Dewayne Bates.
She is survived by sons, Richard Bates and wife Vicki of St. Paul, Minn., Derrick Bates of Oak Ridge, and William Bates of Louisville, Ky.; daughters, Connie Bates Jackson and husband Noble of Knoxville, Veronica Sue Bates of Killeen, Texas, Antoinette Thrift of Oak Ridge; 50 grandchildren, including Tonya Bates of Knoxville, Gladys Bates of Florence, S.C., Thurman Bates of Oak Ridge, Marcus Bates, retired military of Killeen, Texas, Shiwane Bates of Oak Ridge, Latoya Bates Leslie and husband Cortez, of Oak Ridge, William A. Thrift of Oak Ridge, Keith M. Thrift and Fredericka Thrift of Knoxville and their father, Fredrick Thrift, Derrick Smith of Knoxville, Deadrick Smith of Knoxville, Vivian Smith of Oak Ridge, Man Bates and Lee Bates of Minneapolis, Minn., Gabriel Bates and Shalonda Bates of St. Paul, Minn., Patricia Bates of Minnesota, Hercules Bates of Chicago, Ill., Hyya Bowers of Knoxville, Jockie Martin and Markie Martin of Knoxville, Shaleitha and Sondra of Knoxville and Nick of Harriman; aunt, Mary Williams; cousins, Sonny and Cheryl Jackson, Cornelia Jackson, Glen Freeman, Poochie Jones, Lindsey Nix and Rev. Ikey King; special friend, Joyce Aler; nieces and nephews, Sissy Anderson, Vickey Anderson, Jean Anderson, Barbara Anderson, Shirley Jean Kirk, Timmy Kirk, and Bubba Anderson; best friend, Lillian Pettus; and a host of extended family and friends.
The family would like to express their heart-felt appreciation to Loretta and the Mitchell family.
The family will receive friends on Friday, Jan. 17, from 12–1 p.m. at Oak Valley Baptist Church. The funeral will begin at 1 p.m. with Rev. Walter Ghosten officiating. The burial will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers are Cortez Leslie, Chris Turner, Markeith “Nookie” Bates, Marcus Bates, Keith Thrift, and William A. Thrift.
The family asks that any memorials be made to the American Heart Association in her memory.
Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.
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