Arthur Newton Bates was born Feb. 13, 1947, in Florence, Alabama, the son of the late Wilburn Newton and Hazel B. Walker Bates. Mr. Bates was a retired heavy equipment operator, was of the Baptist faith and was a member of Alabama Bee Keepers Association. He raised honey bees and was known as “Arthur’s Honey.” Mr. Bates departed this life Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, at ECM Hospital in Florence, Alabama, at the age of 68 years, 11 months, 24 days.
He is survived by a son, Arthur Newton Bates Jr., Muscle Shoals, Alabama; daughters, Valerie Medlock, Sheffield, Alabama, Sandra Hernandez, Cloverdale, Alabama; grandchildren, Megan McGuire, David Hernandez; brothers, Charlie Bates, Clifford Bates and Joey Bates, all of Cloverdale, Alabama, Jerry Bates and Jimmy Bates, both of Florence, Alabama, and Larry Bates, Joppa, Alabama; sisters, Betty Wallace, Cloverdale, Alabama, Nancy Price, Florence, Alabama; nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Bates was preceded in death by a grandson, William McGuire.
Services will be Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, at 1 p.m. at Shackelford Funeral Directors chapel, Collinwood, Tennessee, with Robert Marks officiating. Burial with military rites will follow in the Antioch Cemetery, Florence, Alabama, with Shackelford Funeral Directors, Wayne County, directing.
His brothers will serve as pallbearers, and Adam and Billy Bates will be honorary pallbearers.
Visitation will be today, Feb. 8, 2016, from 6-8 p.m., and Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, from noon to service time at the funeral home.
