Bobby Lee Bates, 82, Muscle Shoals, passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Visitation will be Sunday, August 3, from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. at Morrison Funeral Home, Tuscumbia. The funeral service will immediately follow in the funeral home chapel with Stanley Hargett, Coach Mike Lane, and Dave Beck officiating. Interment will be in Old Brick Cemetery, Leighton.
Bobby was a veteran of the Alabama Army National Guard and a member of York Bluff Baptist Church (formerly York Terrace). A member of the Shoals Car and Truck Club for thirty-four years, his favorite pastime was going to car shows and talking about his cars, especially the one he and his son, Jackie, built. Bobby was a talker and loved to tell stories about his years driving entertainers. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Lucy Bates; brothers, J.D. Bates and David Bates; and sister, Patsy Murray.
Bobby is survived by his loving wife of sixty-two years, Bonnie Bates; children, Jackie Bates (Wanda) and Shannon Bates Murray (Thomas); grandchildren, Lee Bates, Aundrea Weeks, Tommy Murray, and Jacob Murray; six great-grandchildren; close friend, Kevin Wade; and special furbaby, Addie.
Pallbearers will be Lee Bates, Tommy Murray, Jacob Murray, Kenneth Weeks, Kevin Wade, and “Second Son”, Batxer Clement. Members of Shoals Car and Truck Club will serve as honorary pallbearers.
