Charles Guy Bates

Charles Guy Bates, 61, died unexpectedly on August 13, 2008 at his home in Biloxi, MS. He was born on March 21, 1947 to William and Evelyn (Cope) Bates, who preceded him in death in 1999. He was a graduate from Muskegon Senior High School in 1965, attended Muskegon Community College, graduated from Jefferson Davis College and was a veteran serving in the USAF in the Vietnam War. He worked in retail clothing sales all of his life and was a retail associate at the Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi, MS. "Charlie/Chuck" loved flashy clothes, bling, hip hop music, bike riding, boxing, physical fitness, trains, going to plays and movies ("Casablanca" was his favorite!), antiques, hunting, vacationing in his hometown. He was also an ardent cat lover! He was a guy with a big heart helping friends and strangers at every turn and who loved "shuckin' and jiving"! He will be greatly missed! He was preceded in death by his parents and uncles, Jason Bates, Donald Bates, William Cope, Ed Rapp, Jim Williams, and V.F. Smith; aunts, Madeline Bates, Arlene Bates; grandparents, Guy and Julia Cope and Sophia and Charles Bates; niece and nephew, Edith Ann Cope Tear and Warren Guy Cope. Survivors are: sister and brother-in-law, Barbara Bates- Lalick and Martin Lalick; cousins, Linda (Michael) Agerstrand, and son, Zack, Robbin Bates and son, Michael (Mickey) and son, Jason and daughter, Elizabeth (Brandon) Morrison, Terry (Lori) Bates; and in Colorado, aunts and uncles, Hilma (Walt) Madison, Mary Ellen (Sam) Robertson, Betty Smith; cousins, Beverly and Dan Long, Janice Williams, Tracie and Alan Axton, Donna and Jim Robertson, and his beloved and faithful companion, his cat, Simon. For a more lasting memorial please consider: The Muskegon Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, 425 W. Western Ave., Muskegon, MI 49443 or a Humane Society of your choice. A Service of Remembrance will take place at Crock Funeral Home, 1469 Peck St., Muskegon, MI 49441 the first week of September. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Ave. is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book @www.bradfordokeefe.com