Bates, Bill J. Jr., 65 , passed away November 18, 2022.

B ill was born December 24, 1956 to Delores and Bill Bates, Sr. He was raised by his mother and stepdad Paul Williamson. He married the love of his life in 1974, Gayle D. (Hayes) Bates, deceased. They had 2 sons, Bill Bates III, who passed away at three days old, and Williiam J. Bates (Rae Lynn) and two grandsons, Ethan Bates and Justin Bates.

B ill had  5 sisters, Ethel Brooks (Frank), Martha Martin (Neal), Barbara Haycox (Bob), Joyce Leibst (Rick) Debra Britton (Don-deceased), and 1 brother, James Bates.

B ill loved to fish, play golf, and go to the casino. He had a good heart and would help anyone when he could. He also had an hornery streak and loved to steal a piece of the puzzle and hide it so he could say he put in the last piece.

H e had his A&P license and worked for GE as an aircraft mechanic until his health forced him into early retirement in 2017.