Funeral service for James Kenneth Bates, age 74, of Decatur, will be Saturday, May 28, 2016, 2:00 p.m. at Shelton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dr. Chris Martin officiating. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to service. Interment will be in East Lawrence Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Bates, who died Thursday, May 26, 2016, at his residence, was born September 1, 1941, in Lawrence County, to James Roland Bates and Mildred Inez Stover Bates. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Jerome Bates. Mr. Bates retired from Monsanto following 32 years of service, and was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. He had a tremendous love of cattle farming and Alabama football.
He is survived by his loving wife, Pat (Graves) Bates of Decatur; two sons, Scott Bates of Decatur, and Todd Bates (Tisha) of Hartselle; one brother, Bobby Bates of Trinity; one sister, Jean Hallman of Moulton; and three grandchildren, Lauren Bates, Meredith Bates, and Davis Bates.
Pallbearers will be Davis Bates, Chad Bates, Wayne Bates, Lacy Bates, Anthony Tyler, and Dusty Sims.
