Helen R. Bates, 93, of Benton House Assisted Living in Lenexa, Kansas, passed away December 28, 2021, at the home of her daughter, Belinda.
Helen was born March 6, 1928 in Eureka, Texas to Alton and Velma Baker. Alton worked on pipelines throughout Tex
as and Missouri which had them moving from place to place and they eventually settled in Pryor, Oklahoma. In 1947, Helen graduated from Pryor High School and married Claude L. Bates, Jr on June 21, 1947. Helen and Claude fell in love at Falls Creek Church Camp, Davis, Oklahoma when he returned from serving in the US Navy, the Fighting Seabees in the South Pacific during WWII. They spent the next 30 years working, owning and operating funeral homes in Pryor, Wilson and Bristow, Oklahoma and Chetopa and Edna, Kansas. After retiring from the funeral business, they owned and operated Bates Greenhouse and Flower Shop (1975-1984) in Edna and Parsons, Kansas. In 1984, they moved and retired to Table Rock Lake, near Golden, Missouri.
In high school Helen acted in the Jr and Sr plays. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pryor where she was active in the church choir, ladies' choir and a trio. She served as President of the Young Peoples Training and YWA.
Helen was always active in the Baptist Church wherever she lived. While in Bristow, Oklahoma, she was a member of the DEDAL Sewing club, Rotary Anns, Baptist Women's Missionary Union and GA's. In 1962, she served on the building committee at The First Baptist Church, Bristow to erect a new Educational Building and was the last surviving committee member. Claude and Helen helped organize and start the Oklahoma Arabian Horse Association being charter members. Helen was active in the Edison School PTA and served as secretary 1959-1960. She stayed active volunteering in many community service projects.
Helen taught children's Sunday School classes, served in the nursery, helped with church dinners, served in various positions in Vacation Bible Schools and loved singing in the church choir. Helen always had her 5 children in church if the doors were open. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday nights, and kids choir along with many other activities kept everyone busy. She loved the Lord and made sure her children had a great foundation in their walk with Jesus. She loved adventure and was the family hero as she kept on going and going and going!!! With only Alicia, the youngest one still home, Helen and Claude started camping in the Branson, Missouri and Gunnison, Colorado area. They loved setting up camp near a mountain stream and exploring the surrounding area. At the age of 82, she rode on the back of her son Lynn's motorcycle to cross the continental divide over Monarch Pass in Colorado and hiked over the continental divide with her family at the Alpine Tunnel. Only at the urging of family, she finally stopped to catch her breath (actually, it was the family that needed the rest, seriously). She went whitewater rafting on the Gunnison River, and explored back country mountain trails on the back of 4-wheelers. Helen, at 81 started volunteering at Helping Hands (a non-profit organization serving those in need with a food bank and lightly used clothing) while living near her daughter Becky, in Carl Junction, Missouri. Clientele would come in looking for a hug from "the little lady." At 89, she explored Sonoma County and hilly San Francisco. At Benton House she was the life of the party. She took part in every activity in a big way. Staff and residents often said she was the first one they met at Benton and made them feel welcome. She became family and was loved by everyone at Benton with her outgoing personality and servant's heart. Oh, and her hugs!!!!! She ALWAYS had a hug to share with anyone and everyone. Often, she would say," that might be the only hug they get today". She sacrificed her own needs and wants for her children while never hinting at the fact she was doing so.
Survivors include one son, Lynn Bates and his wife Jeanne of Bernice, Oklahoma; 3 daughters, Becky Pierce and her husband Kendall of Carl Junction, Missouri; Belinda Endicott and her husband Gary of West Palm Beach, Florida; and Alicia Treat of Ottawa, Kansas; a daughter in law, Susan Bates of Oswego, Kansas; one sister, Patricia Sloan of Tulsa, Oklahoma; eleven grandchildren, Chris, Drew and Brady Bates, Ryan, Rhett and Reid Pierce, Brittnie Stevenson, Lynsey Gentry, Keith, Stephen, and Cory Porter, 19 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Helen loved and adored her younger sister Patricia. Her grandchildren called her Gram, and to her great-grandchildren, she was Great Gram. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Claude Jr, one son Lee Bates and one son in law Allen Barragar.
A family celebration of a special life will be held April 10, 2022 at New Life Ranch Frontier Cove, Adair, Oklahoma with the family sharing cherished memories. In July, the family will travel to Pitkin, Colorado for interment joining her husband Claude, son Lee and son in law Allen.
The family suggests memorials to help with scholarship funds for youth church camp at New Life Ranch Frontier Cove, Attention Rhett Pierce, 5582 New Life Ranch Rd, Adair, OK 74330 or Ascend Hospice, 4550 W 109th ST, Overland Park, KS 66207.
The Pryor Imformation Publication
April 19, 2022
Helen was born March 6, 1928 in Eureka, Texas to Alton and Velma Baker. Alton worked on pipelines throughout Tex
as and Missouri which had them moving from place to place and they eventually settled in Pryor, Oklahoma. In 1947, Helen graduated from Pryor High School and married Claude L. Bates, Jr on June 21, 1947. Helen and Claude fell in love at Falls Creek Church Camp, Davis, Oklahoma when he returned from serving in the US Navy, the Fighting Seabees in the South Pacific during WWII. They spent the next 30 years working, owning and operating funeral homes in Pryor, Wilson and Bristow, Oklahoma and Chetopa and Edna, Kansas. After retiring from the funeral business, they owned and operated Bates Greenhouse and Flower Shop (1975-1984) in Edna and Parsons, Kansas. In 1984, they moved and retired to Table Rock Lake, near Golden, Missouri.
In high school Helen acted in the Jr and Sr plays. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pryor where she was active in the church choir, ladies' choir and a trio. She served as President of the Young Peoples Training and YWA.
Helen was always active in the Baptist Church wherever she lived. While in Bristow, Oklahoma, she was a member of the DEDAL Sewing club, Rotary Anns, Baptist Women's Missionary Union and GA's. In 1962, she served on the building committee at The First Baptist Church, Bristow to erect a new Educational Building and was the last surviving committee member. Claude and Helen helped organize and start the Oklahoma Arabian Horse Association being charter members. Helen was active in the Edison School PTA and served as secretary 1959-1960. She stayed active volunteering in many community service projects.
Helen taught children's Sunday School classes, served in the nursery, helped with church dinners, served in various positions in Vacation Bible Schools and loved singing in the church choir. Helen always had her 5 children in church if the doors were open. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday nights, and kids choir along with many other activities kept everyone busy. She loved the Lord and made sure her children had a great foundation in their walk with Jesus. She loved adventure and was the family hero as she kept on going and going and going!!! With only Alicia, the youngest one still home, Helen and Claude started camping in the Branson, Missouri and Gunnison, Colorado area. They loved setting up camp near a mountain stream and exploring the surrounding area. At the age of 82, she rode on the back of her son Lynn's motorcycle to cross the continental divide over Monarch Pass in Colorado and hiked over the continental divide with her family at the Alpine Tunnel. Only at the urging of family, she finally stopped to catch her breath (actually, it was the family that needed the rest, seriously). She went whitewater rafting on the Gunnison River, and explored back country mountain trails on the back of 4-wheelers. Helen, at 81 started volunteering at Helping Hands (a non-profit organization serving those in need with a food bank and lightly used clothing) while living near her daughter Becky, in Carl Junction, Missouri. Clientele would come in looking for a hug from "the little lady." At 89, she explored Sonoma County and hilly San Francisco. At Benton House she was the life of the party. She took part in every activity in a big way. Staff and residents often said she was the first one they met at Benton and made them feel welcome. She became family and was loved by everyone at Benton with her outgoing personality and servant's heart. Oh, and her hugs!!!!! She ALWAYS had a hug to share with anyone and everyone. Often, she would say," that might be the only hug they get today". She sacrificed her own needs and wants for her children while never hinting at the fact she was doing so.
Survivors include one son, Lynn Bates and his wife Jeanne of Bernice, Oklahoma; 3 daughters, Becky Pierce and her husband Kendall of Carl Junction, Missouri; Belinda Endicott and her husband Gary of West Palm Beach, Florida; and Alicia Treat of Ottawa, Kansas; a daughter in law, Susan Bates of Oswego, Kansas; one sister, Patricia Sloan of Tulsa, Oklahoma; eleven grandchildren, Chris, Drew and Brady Bates, Ryan, Rhett and Reid Pierce, Brittnie Stevenson, Lynsey Gentry, Keith, Stephen, and Cory Porter, 19 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Helen loved and adored her younger sister Patricia. Her grandchildren called her Gram, and to her great-grandchildren, she was Great Gram. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Claude Jr, one son Lee Bates and one son in law Allen Barragar.
A family celebration of a special life will be held April 10, 2022 at New Life Ranch Frontier Cove, Adair, Oklahoma with the family sharing cherished memories. In July, the family will travel to Pitkin, Colorado for interment joining her husband Claude, son Lee and son in law Allen.
The family suggests memorials to help with scholarship funds for youth church camp at New Life Ranch Frontier Cove, Attention Rhett Pierce, 5582 New Life Ranch Rd, Adair, OK 74330 or Ascend Hospice, 4550 W 109th ST, Overland Park, KS 66207.
The Pryor Imformation Publication
April 19, 2022
Helen R. Bates, 93, of Benton House Assisted Living in Lenexa, Kansas, passed away December 28, 2021, at the home of her daughter, Belinda.
Helen was born March 6, 1928 in Eureka, Texas to Alton and Velma Baker. Alton worked on pipelines throughout Tex
as and Missouri which had them moving from place to place and they eventually settled in Pryor, Oklahoma. In 1947, Helen graduated from Pryor High School and married Claude L. Bates, Jr on June 21, 1947. Helen and Claude fell in love at Falls Creek Church Camp, Davis, Oklahoma when he returned from serving in the US Navy, the Fighting Seabees in the South Pacific during WWII. They spent the next 30 years working, owning and operating funeral homes in Pryor, Wilson and Bristow, Oklahoma and Chetopa and Edna, Kansas. After retiring from the funeral business, they owned and operated Bates Greenhouse and Flower Shop (1975-1984) in Edna and Parsons, Kansas. In 1984, they moved and retired to Table Rock Lake, near Golden, Missouri.
In high school Helen acted in the Jr and Sr plays. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pryor where she was active in the church choir, ladies' choir and a trio. She served as President of the Young Peoples Training and YWA.
Helen was always active in the Baptist Church wherever she lived. While in Bristow, Oklahoma, she was a member of the DEDAL Sewing club, Rotary Anns, Baptist Women's Missionary Union and GA's. In 1962, she served on the building committee at The First Baptist Church, Bristow to erect a new Educational Building and was the last surviving committee member. Claude and Helen helped organize and start the Oklahoma Arabian Horse Association being charter members. Helen was active in the Edison School PTA and served as secretary 1959-1960. She stayed active volunteering in many community service projects.
Helen taught children's Sunday School classes, served in the nursery, helped with church dinners, served in various positions in Vacation Bible Schools and loved singing in the church choir. Helen always had her 5 children in church if the doors were open. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday nights, and kids choir along with many other activities kept everyone busy. She loved the Lord and made sure her children had a great foundation in their walk with Jesus. She loved adventure and was the family hero as she kept on going and going and going!!! With only Alicia, the youngest one still home, Helen and Claude started camping in the Branson, Missouri and Gunnison, Colorado area. They loved setting up camp near a mountain stream and exploring the surrounding area. At the age of 82, she rode on the back of her son Lynn's motorcycle to cross the continental divide over Monarch Pass in Colorado and hiked over the continental divide with her family at the Alpine Tunnel. Only at the urging of family, she finally stopped to catch her breath (actually, it was the family that needed the rest, seriously). She went whitewater rafting on the Gunnison River, and explored back country mountain trails on the back of 4-wheelers. Helen, at 81 started volunteering at Helping Hands (a non-profit organization serving those in need with a food bank and lightly used clothing) while living near her daughter Becky, in Carl Junction, Missouri. Clientele would come in looking for a hug from "the little lady." At 89, she explored Sonoma County and hilly San Francisco. At Benton House she was the life of the party. She took part in every activity in a big way. Staff and residents often said she was the first one they met at Benton and made them feel welcome. She became family and was loved by everyone at Benton with her outgoing personality and servant's heart. Oh, and her hugs!!!!! She ALWAYS had a hug to share with anyone and everyone. Often, she would say," that might be the only hug they get today". She sacrificed her own needs and wants for her children while never hinting at the fact she was doing so.
Survivors include one son, Lynn Bates and his wife Jeanne of Bernice, Oklahoma; 3 daughters, Becky Pierce and her husband Kendall of Carl Junction, Missouri; Belinda Endicott and her husband Gary of West Palm Beach, Florida; and Alicia Treat of Ottawa, Kansas; a daughter in law, Susan Bates of Oswego, Kansas; one sister, Patricia Sloan of Tulsa, Oklahoma; eleven grandchildren, Chris, Drew and Brady Bates, Ryan, Rhett and Reid Pierce, Brittnie Stevenson, Lynsey Gentry, Keith, Stephen, and Cory Porter, 19 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Helen loved and adored her younger sister Patricia. Her grandchildren called her Gram, and to her great-grandchildren, she was Great Gram. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Claude Jr, one son Lee Bates and one son in law Allen Barragar.
A family celebration of a special life will be held April 10, 2022 at New Life Ranch Frontier Cove, Adair, Oklahoma with the family sharing cherished memories. In July, the family will travel to Pitkin, Colorado for interment joining her husband Claude, son Lee and son in law Allen.
The family suggests memorials to help with scholarship funds for youth church camp at New Life Ranch Frontier Cove, Attention Rhett Pierce, 5582 New Life Ranch Rd, Adair, OK 74330 or Ascend Hospice, 4550 W 109th ST, Overland Park, KS 66207.
The Pryor Imformation Publication
April 19, 2022
Helen was born March 6, 1928 in Eureka, Texas to Alton and Velma Baker. Alton worked on pipelines throughout Tex
as and Missouri which had them moving from place to place and they eventually settled in Pryor, Oklahoma. In 1947, Helen graduated from Pryor High School and married Claude L. Bates, Jr on June 21, 1947. Helen and Claude fell in love at Falls Creek Church Camp, Davis, Oklahoma when he returned from serving in the US Navy, the Fighting Seabees in the South Pacific during WWII. They spent the next 30 years working, owning and operating funeral homes in Pryor, Wilson and Bristow, Oklahoma and Chetopa and Edna, Kansas. After retiring from the funeral business, they owned and operated Bates Greenhouse and Flower Shop (1975-1984) in Edna and Parsons, Kansas. In 1984, they moved and retired to Table Rock Lake, near Golden, Missouri.
In high school Helen acted in the Jr and Sr plays. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pryor where she was active in the church choir, ladies' choir and a trio. She served as President of the Young Peoples Training and YWA.
Helen was always active in the Baptist Church wherever she lived. While in Bristow, Oklahoma, she was a member of the DEDAL Sewing club, Rotary Anns, Baptist Women's Missionary Union and GA's. In 1962, she served on the building committee at The First Baptist Church, Bristow to erect a new Educational Building and was the last surviving committee member. Claude and Helen helped organize and start the Oklahoma Arabian Horse Association being charter members. Helen was active in the Edison School PTA and served as secretary 1959-1960. She stayed active volunteering in many community service projects.
Helen taught children's Sunday School classes, served in the nursery, helped with church dinners, served in various positions in Vacation Bible Schools and loved singing in the church choir. Helen always had her 5 children in church if the doors were open. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday nights, and kids choir along with many other activities kept everyone busy. She loved the Lord and made sure her children had a great foundation in their walk with Jesus. She loved adventure and was the family hero as she kept on going and going and going!!! With only Alicia, the youngest one still home, Helen and Claude started camping in the Branson, Missouri and Gunnison, Colorado area. They loved setting up camp near a mountain stream and exploring the surrounding area. At the age of 82, she rode on the back of her son Lynn's motorcycle to cross the continental divide over Monarch Pass in Colorado and hiked over the continental divide with her family at the Alpine Tunnel. Only at the urging of family, she finally stopped to catch her breath (actually, it was the family that needed the rest, seriously). She went whitewater rafting on the Gunnison River, and explored back country mountain trails on the back of 4-wheelers. Helen, at 81 started volunteering at Helping Hands (a non-profit organization serving those in need with a food bank and lightly used clothing) while living near her daughter Becky, in Carl Junction, Missouri. Clientele would come in looking for a hug from "the little lady." At 89, she explored Sonoma County and hilly San Francisco. At Benton House she was the life of the party. She took part in every activity in a big way. Staff and residents often said she was the first one they met at Benton and made them feel welcome. She became family and was loved by everyone at Benton with her outgoing personality and servant's heart. Oh, and her hugs!!!!! She ALWAYS had a hug to share with anyone and everyone. Often, she would say," that might be the only hug they get today". She sacrificed her own needs and wants for her children while never hinting at the fact she was doing so.
Survivors include one son, Lynn Bates and his wife Jeanne of Bernice, Oklahoma; 3 daughters, Becky Pierce and her husband Kendall of Carl Junction, Missouri; Belinda Endicott and her husband Gary of West Palm Beach, Florida; and Alicia Treat of Ottawa, Kansas; a daughter in law, Susan Bates of Oswego, Kansas; one sister, Patricia Sloan of Tulsa, Oklahoma; eleven grandchildren, Chris, Drew and Brady Bates, Ryan, Rhett and Reid Pierce, Brittnie Stevenson, Lynsey Gentry, Keith, Stephen, and Cory Porter, 19 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Helen loved and adored her younger sister Patricia. Her grandchildren called her Gram, and to her great-grandchildren, she was Great Gram. In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Claude Jr, one son Lee Bates and one son in law Allen Barragar.
A family celebration of a special life will be held April 10, 2022 at New Life Ranch Frontier Cove, Adair, Oklahoma with the family sharing cherished memories. In July, the family will travel to Pitkin, Colorado for interment joining her husband Claude, son Lee and son in law Allen.
The family suggests memorials to help with scholarship funds for youth church camp at New Life Ranch Frontier Cove, Attention Rhett Pierce, 5582 New Life Ranch Rd, Adair, OK 74330 or Ascend Hospice, 4550 W 109th ST, Overland Park, KS 66207.
The Pryor Imformation Publication
April 19, 2022
Family Members
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
