James Bates

Funeral services for James Alton Bates, 67 of Mexia will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2007 in Tehuacana United Methodist Church with interment following in the Tehuacana Cemetery. Rev. Michael Redmond and Rev. Brad Brittain will officiate. Visitation with the family will be 6 - 8 p.m. Tuesday night at Blair - Stubbs Funeral Home. Mr. Bates was born January 9, 1940 in Mexia to Barney Alton and Bettie Faye Pope Bates and passed away on April 30, 2007 at the Mexia hospital. He was a retired rancher, served in the National Guard for 3 years, and was a member of the Methodist Church. Survivors are Janet McLean, and his children, Liz Vest and husband, Jeffrey of Mexia, David Bates and wife, Dorothy and Sheila Bates, of Mexia, Grandchildren, Larry Bates, Jeff and Haley Vest, Cady Bates, brother, Ronnie Duke of Mesquite, and sister, Patricia Duke, aunt and uncle, John and Bonnie Beal of Ft. Worth, and a number of nieces and nephews. Welcoming him to Heaven were his parents, Alton and Sybil Bates and Floyd and Bettie Duke. Pallbearers will be Larry Ferguson, Kenny Buyher, Dennis Ferguson, Ronnie Ferguson, Gary Ferguson, Daryl Ferguson, Steve Ferguson, Lane Taylor and Terry Taylor. Honorary pallbearers are Buckwheat Morton, Louie Masters, Zeke Rhodes, Jerry Allen, Bo Morton, Rocky McLean, Darrell McLean, Flint McLean, Shane McLean, Justin McLean, Dennis Walker, Roy McNeal, Billy Blanchard, J. D. Lamb and Robert Pat Smith. Please visit www.blair-stubbs.com to leave a memorial message or sign the guest book.