Graveside service for Jessie Lavon Bates will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 28, 2018 at the Chelsea Cemetery under the direction of the Chelsea Funeral Home & Cremation Service.
Jessie passed away on Monday, June 25, 2018 at her home at the age of 86.
The daughter of Frank and Minnie Keithcart King was born April 7, 1932 in Miami, Oklahoma. While she was a young girl, her father passed away. Later Jess Watson would come into her life and raise her as his own daughter. As she became older she began attending Miami schools, graduating as a member of the class of 1949. After graduation, Jessie began her working career, eventually taking a job at Crown Drugstore. On a weekend off, Jessie went to the Timber Hill Dance. There for the first time, she met Gene Bates. The two began dating, and married on September 20, 1958 in Afton, Oklahoma.
The newlywed couple made their home in the Centralia area over the next few years. In 1962 they bought a place east of Chelsea, and made it their family home. During this time, Jessie focused on taking care of her growing family. She was proud of the fact that she was a homemaker, even though in the later years, she did help her son Timothy at his law practice.
In her spare time Jessie loved to read the newspaper. It not only helped her stay up to date with the local news, but it also told of the upcoming garage sales she enjoyed visiting. She also had a love for zebra cakes, followed with a Coke or Pepsi. Then there was her family. Jessie loved every minute she got to spend with them, especially her grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband Monie Eugene Bates; parents, Frank King, Minnie Josephine Hedrick, and step-father Jess Watson.
Survivors include her sons, Tony Bates and wife Janet, and Timothy Bates and wife Melinda, all of Chelsea; grandchildren, Cassie Bates of Claremore, Tabitha Bates and Marcus Bates, both of Chelsea; adopted grandchildren, Andrew Buchanan of Oologah, Rebecca Buchanan and James Buchanan both of Chelsea, and sisters-in-law, Anita Coppedge of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Gwendolyn Giles of Big Cabin.
View and sign Jessie's online memorial at
www.mmsfuneralhomes.com