BATES, LAURA MERLENE - Sharp County, Arkansas | LAURA MERLENE BATES - Arkansas Gravestone Photos

Laura Merlene BATES

Oaklawn Cemetery
Sharp County,
Arkansas

Sherman 8 Jul 1909 - 10 Nov 2000
See his Military Marker

*Obituary
Sherman Carroll Bates, 91, of Hardy died Nov. 10, 2000, at White River Medical Center in Batesville.
Born July 8, 1907, in Elba, he was the son of Emory and Bertha Bates. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hardy for 65 years. He had served as a member of the Hardy and Highland School boards and was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of Wilson Lodge 432 for more than 50 years. He was also a former Sharp County judge. He worked as a teacher, a timberman, a car dealer and a Mobil Oil distributor.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Laura Marlene Actkinson Bates; a son, James C. Bates and his wife Carol, of Hardy; two grandchildren -Darren and wife Carrie Bates of Hardy and Karyn and husband Michael Fitch of Okla.; a great-grandchild, Brady Bates, of Hardy; a brother, Adam Bates of Armona, Calif.; and a sister, Sophia Hobbs of Clovis, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Woodrow Bates.
The funeral was Nov. 13 at New Hope Baptist Church on Highway 175 with the Rev. Troy Harvey officiating. Burial followed in Oaklawn Cemetery in Highland.
Pallbearers were Russell Bassham, Jack Carmon, Charles Ed Wilson, Bob Vance, Jack Kimbrell and Bill Campbell. Honorary pallbearers include Dale Bassham, Max Hill, Curtis Bratcher, Chuck Holden, Junior Trivitt, Willie Gene Oyler, A.L. Hutson and Sid Lankford.
Memorials may be made to Wilson Lodge 432, P.O. Box 602, Hardy, AR 72542.


Laura 13 Feb 1908 - 26 Feb 2002
*Obituary
Laura Merlene Actkinson Bates, 93, of Hardy died Feb. 26, 2001, at her home.
Born Feb. 13, 1908, in Marshall, she was the second child of 14 born to William Marion and Ersie Jane O'Neal Actkinson. She married Sherman Carroll Bates Feb. 28, 1932, and the couple moved to Hardy in 1935. She was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Hardy for 65 years, working as a Sunday School teacher and choir member as well as in many different leadership positions in the WSCS and UMW. She sang alto with the Hardy Harmonettes quartet for 15 years. She was also a member of Ruby Chapter 191 Order of the Eastern Star for 63 years serving in several different capacities including worthy matron. She was a community-minded member of the Timely Garden Club of Hardy, arranging flowers for the church and various community activities. She also worked as a bookkeeper for the family businesses connected with timber, Mobil oil and car dealerships.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, James C. and Carol Bates of Hardy; two grandchildren and grandchildren-in-laws � Darren and Carrie Bates of Hardy, and Karyn and Michael Fitch of Oklahoma; a great-grandson, Brady Bates of Hardy; a niece, Lula Jewel Brister Whitsell of Helena, who lived with Mr. and Mrs. Bates from the age of 10 for many years; four sisters � Bea Branum of Belmont, Calif., Velma Lynch of San Francisco; Donna Gray of High Ridge, Mo., and Betty Freeman of San Bruno, Calif.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, her parents, four brothers and five sisters.
The funeral was March 1 at First United Methodist Church of Hardy with Marcia Dodd and Troy Harvey officiating. Burial followed at Oaklawn Cemetery in Highland.
Pallbearers were Randy Brister, Wendell Brister, Ricky Brister, Russell Bassham, Bob Vance and Jack Carmon.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Hardy.

Contributed on 5/28/13 by tootied
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Record #: 885470

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Submitted: 5/28/13 • Approved: 6/1/13 • Last Updated: 12/16/18 • R885470-G885469-S3

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