Thelma Louise Bates, age 94, of Lawrenceburg, TN passed away Monday, November 07, 2022, at The Summit of Lawrenceburg. She was a native of Lawrence County, TN, and a retired office administrator from the Department of Transportation. She was a member of Pulaski Street Church of Christ, a Sunday school teacher for many years, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and she was also active in the Republican Party.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert “Hub” and Virgie Lee Boyd; her husband, Paul J. Bates; one son, Tim Bates; and three brothers, Gene Boyd, Bud Boyd, and Charles Boyd.
She is survived by three children, Paul Alan Bates of Columbia, TN, Kimberly Bates Chunn of Cumming, GA, and Charlie Bates of Lawrenceburg, TN; four sisters, Faye Sherman of San Diego, CA, Gayle Hargis of Gardendale, AL, Sue Lightfoot of Lawrenceburg, TN, and Donna Crews of Lawrenceburg, TN; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are being handled by Neal Funeral Home, 231 N. Military Avenue, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday, November 10, 2022, at Neal Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at Neal Funeral Home at 1:00 PM Friday, November 11, 2022, with Jeremy Gargis and Jacob Evans officiating. Interment will follow at Shaw Cemetery in Lawrence County, TN. The family suggests memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
