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Submitted: 4/10/12 • Approved: 10/2/18 • Last Updated: 10/5/18 • R674830-G674830-S3
May 28, 1923 - March 6, 2011
*Obituary
Benton County Daily Record
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
ROGERS — Ann Layfield Bates, 87, died on Sunday, March 6, 2011, at New Hope Health and Rehab in Rogers, Ark. She was born on May 28, 1923, in Burlington, Vt., to Roland Bates Oswald Layfield of Salisbury, Md., and Edith Deuel Baker Rumrill of Peekskill, N.Y.
As a young girl in Vermont, she loved swimming, horses and reading. After her family moved to Arkansas, she attended Little Rock Junior College, got married and raised her family in North Little Rock. She worked as a legal secretary for the Arkansas Department of Labor until 1979.
To her family and close friends, Ann is affectionately known as "Grackle" — a term of endearment bestowed upon her for her spunky personality, quick wit, humor, and outspoken nature. She truly lived out what she valued most in life, which was, in her own words: "To listen to others, to stay as independent as possible, to smell the flowers, to cherish friends, to love family, to take care of your health and home, to worship the Lord and enjoy each day, and to forgive yourself when you fall short."
Ann was active in the Methodist Church in central Arkansas, and then became an Episcopalian in 1966 and an active member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in North Little Rock.
She moved to Rogers in 1998 to be closer to family and attended St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, where her son was the rector for 25 years. She was a lector and attended the women's groups and adult Sunday school classes regularly, until her health declined.
Survivors include one son, The Rev. Allen Bates and wife, Melinda Bates; four grandchildren, Allen Bates and wife, Leah Bates, of Rogers, David Bates of Rogers, James Bates of Fayetteville, and Shannon Rose and husband, Mike, of Londonderry, N.H. There are six great-grandchildren, Brookelyn and Braedyn Bates of Rogers, Drew Bates of Fayetteville, and Mitchell, Taylor and Ally Rose of Londonderry.
She was preceded in death by one son, David William Bates; and her former husband, William Floyd Bates Jr.; and both parents.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Bates Family plot in the Rogers
Cemetery, located at 510 S. 10th St. (corner of Eighth and Oak streets). Her son, Father Allen Bates, will officiate.
Condolences can be e-mailed to FatherAllenBates@aol.com.
Memorials may be made either to the Humane Society or to a Garden that will be created with all of the perennial flowers received as memorials.
Arrangements are by Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers.
Contributed on 4/10/12 by wfields55
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Record #: 674830