John C. Bates

John Charles Bates, Sr., 86, of Gulfport, Mississippi, passed away on August 8, 2018 in Gulfport. Visitation will be 9:30-11:00 am with a memorial service following beginning at 11:00 on Tuesday, August 14. Both visitation and the memorial service will be held at Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home on 15th street in Gulfport Mississippi. John was born in Sarepta, Louisiana to Estell Frazier Bates and Arthur Loyd Bates on December 16, 1931. . He is married to Rosary King Bates. He worked as an agent for State Farm Insurance Company for 55 years. John is preceded in death by his parents, Estell and Arthur Bates, his brother, Donald Ray Bates, and his sister, Glenda Ruth Bates Patterson. John is survived by his wife Rosary King Bates of Gulfport Ms, two sisters, Peggy Tuggle and Kathy Dicks of Longview, Texas, one daughter, Sandy Lollis of Saucier, Ms, and four sons, John (Bubba) Bates, Jr. and his wife Linda Bates of Long Beach Ms., Ronnie Bates and his wife Fay Bates of Birmingham, Al., Donald (Beau) Bates and Johnathan Bates both of Gulfport, Ms. John is also survived by eight grandchildren. John Wayne Miller and his wife Wendy Miller of Gulfport, Ms, Courtney Peeler and her husband Brock Peeler of Saucier, Ms., Forest Bates and his wife Tracy Bates of Knoxville, Tn., Beverly Britt and her husband Erik Britt of Woodstock, Ga., and Betsy Phillips and her husband Andy Phillips of Atlanta, Georgia, Kim Smith and her husband Bill of Battle Creek, Michigan, Scott Balyeat and his wife Barbie Balyeat of Long Beach, Ms, Steve Balyeat and his wife Tanya Balyeat of Gulfport, Ms. John is also survived by 20 great grandchildren, Christopher, Johnathan, Anna, and Evie Miller, Victoria, Dustin, and Dylan Ware. Savannah, Joshia, and Trinity Bates. Ashley and Josh Wagner, Tyler and Erin Balyeat. Hannah Grace and Abigail Britt, and Maggie, Benjamin, Annie, and Bates Phillips. John is also survived by five great great grandchildren Grayson, Aiden, and Aurora Ware, Anastasia Miller and Jason Balyeat. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations to St. Jude’s Research Hospital. The family of John wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff of Garden Park Hospital who attended to the needs of their dear husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather in his last two weeks on this earth.