Born January 7, 1939 in Checotah, Shirley was the daughter of Alfred and Rosetta (Birdge) Stacey. The family moved to the Tulsa area when Shirley was about 5 years old where her father found employment. The youngest of 10 children, Shirley grew up during difficult times alongside her 4 sisters and 5 brothers, 3 of which served during World War II.
Shirley met John Bates through mutual friends while visiting a drive-in at 101st and Memorial. The couple married August 6, 1955 in a small church near the Alsuma community. They would spend their honeymoon in a beautiful setting near Noel, Missouri. Shirley and John were devoted members of the Freewill Baptist Church in Mounds for many years. It was there they taught Sunday School, used their musical talents, and spent countless hours serving with the church’s food pantry.
Shirley was a wonderful cook, especially when baking her pecan pies. You could always find Shirley watching a golf tournament on television. Rickey Fowler was her favorite player. She absolutely loved children as well as the many wonderful people she worked with through the years at Handy Dan’s, an improvement store located at 51st and Memorial.
Surviving family include her three children: Sheila Hill and husband, Charlie of Mounds, Randy Bates and wife, Kelly of Hectorville, and Stacy Bates and his wife, Leslie of Bixby; 8 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 5 brothers, and 4 sisters.
Born January 7, 1939 in Checotah, Shirley was the daughter of Alfred and Rosetta (Birdge) Stacey. The family moved to the Tulsa area when Shirley was about 5 years old where her father found employment. The youngest of 10 children, Shirley grew up during difficult times alongside her 4 sisters and 5 brothers, 3 of which served during World War II.
Shirley met John Bates through mutual friends while visiting a drive-in at 101st and Memorial. The couple married August 6, 1955 in a small church near the Alsuma community. They would spend their honeymoon in a beautiful setting near Noel, Missouri. Shirley and John were devoted members of the Freewill Baptist Church in Mounds for many years. It was there they taught Sunday School, used their musical talents, and spent countless hours serving with the church’s food pantry.
Shirley was a wonderful cook, especially when baking her pecan pies. You could always find Shirley watching a golf tournament on television. Rickey Fowler was her favorite player. She absolutely loved children as well as the many wonderful people she worked with through the years at Handy Dan’s, an improvement store located at 51st and Memorial.
Surviving family include her three children: Sheila Hill and husband, Charlie of Mounds, Randy Bates and wife, Kelly of Hectorville, and Stacy Bates and his wife, Leslie of Bixby; 8 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, 5 brothers, and 4 sisters.
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