Robert Henry Bates

Robert Henry Bates \u0027Bob\u0027, 75, entered eternal life on Sunday, May 21, 2006. He will be sadly missed by his wife of 57 years, Virginia Ann (Druyer) Bates; and his five children, Tim of Fort Mohave, Arizona, Steve of Charlotte, North Carolina, Shelly Hauet of Southern California, Nancy Hopkins and Terry Bates of Page, Arizona. Bob was loved deeply by his nine grandchildren; Jeff and Chad Randall, Doug and Jay Bates, Melissa and Jayme Bates, Nathan and Kaitlin Hopkins and Hilary Bishop. Mr. Bates also has four great-grandchildren; Sierra Rose Archer, Amber Rose, Miranda and Rylan Randall and adopted great-granddaughter, Jorja Overby . Bob also leaves behind his favorite daughter-in-law, Cathy Bates and his favorite son-in-law, Gene Hauet; his dear adopted daughter, Jean Schwarz, his sisters, Norma Andersen and Betty Whisler; and his brother, Don Bates, and several nieces and nephews. Don is preceded in death by his brother, William. Callie and Henry Gamble were his parents. Don was born in Ecorse, Michigan in 1930. He graduated from Flat Rock Michigan High School in 1947, after graduation he played as a running back for a semi-pro football team. Mr. Bates then entered the U.S. Army. Bob married Virginia and resided in Rockwood, Michigan for 45 years before retiring to Cottonwood, Arizona in 1993. Mr. Bates was an engineer for the DT \u0026I Railroad over 40 years. He will also be greatly be missed by all who knew him. Mr. Bates was a dedicated member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cottonwood, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church-Building Fund, 700 N. Bill Gray Rd., Cottonwood, AZ., 86326. Such donations would please him and his family. A Memorial Rosary was held at Westcott Funeral Home, 1013 E. Mingus Ave., in Cottonwood on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at 7:00pm. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 at 10:00am at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 700 N. Bill Gray Rd., in Cottonwood, AZ. An online guest book is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com