Laura R. Bates, 82, of Ashland passed away Monday evening, June 1, 2015, at Hospice of North Central Ohio following a brief illness.
She was born on Sept. 7, 1932, to the late Roy and Orpha (née McKenzie) Miller.
Laura graduated from Dalton High School, class of 1950. After high school, she went on to earn a bachelor's degree in education from Ashland College in 1954.
Laura married the love of her life, Edward R. Bates on Aug. 21, 1954.
She began her teaching career in Ontario. Laura taught several years at Polk High School. She later returned to teaching, after taking several years off to raise her family, in 1965 at Mapleton Local Schools, where she retired in 1987. Affectionately known to the Mapleton community as "Ma Bates," she was an avid Mountie enthusiast for academics, drama club, all athletics and music. Laura went on to serve for 12 years on the Mapleton School Board, on which she was instrumental in establishing an all-day kindergarten. She was recognized by the Ashland Times-Gazette in 2014 as a teacher, volunteer and school board member for 50 years in Mapleton Local Schools.
Laura enjoyed spending time with her family, including her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an inspiration and role model to all those who were fortunate enough to know her. Laura loved hosting family events at her home during the holidays. She loved inviting family and friends in the summer to join her around her swimming pool. Her children and grandchildren brought a great deal of joy to her life as she did to their lives.
Laura is survived by her husband of 60 years, Ed Bates of Ashland; two daughters, Sandra (Cliff) Watson of Ruggles and Jane Bunn of Ashland; two sons, Mike (Trudy) Bates and Dave (Lida) Bates both of Ashland; seven grandchildren, Josh Bates, Kristin Stover, Megan Daniel, Tony Bunt, Misti Morgan, Kaley Wickham and Dusty Bates; numerous great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; Nicole McKay Bates of Wooster; and Suki Kudo of Columbus.
In addition to her parents, Laura was preceded in death by one sister, Anna Diller.
A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Nankin Federated Church, 795 Ohio 302, Nankin, with the Rev. Mike Berry and the Rev. Jacob Heskett officiating. Interment will follow in Nankin Cemetery. Friends may call 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 5, at Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home, 313 Center St., Ashland, and one hour before the service on Saturday at the church from 10 to 11 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Laura R. Bates Scholarship Fund, c/o Sandra Watson, 313 Center St., Ashland, Ohio 44805; or to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1050 Dauch Drive, Ashland, Ohio 44805; or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Online condolences may be shared on the funeral home's website at www.dpkfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. (T-G 06/03/15)
She was born on Sept. 7, 1932, to the late Roy and Orpha (née McKenzie) Miller.
Laura graduated from Dalton High School, class of 1950. After high school, she went on to earn a bachelor's degree in education from Ashland College in 1954.
Laura married the love of her life, Edward R. Bates on Aug. 21, 1954.
She began her teaching career in Ontario. Laura taught several years at Polk High School. She later returned to teaching, after taking several years off to raise her family, in 1965 at Mapleton Local Schools, where she retired in 1987. Affectionately known to the Mapleton community as "Ma Bates," she was an avid Mountie enthusiast for academics, drama club, all athletics and music. Laura went on to serve for 12 years on the Mapleton School Board, on which she was instrumental in establishing an all-day kindergarten. She was recognized by the Ashland Times-Gazette in 2014 as a teacher, volunteer and school board member for 50 years in Mapleton Local Schools.
Laura enjoyed spending time with her family, including her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an inspiration and role model to all those who were fortunate enough to know her. Laura loved hosting family events at her home during the holidays. She loved inviting family and friends in the summer to join her around her swimming pool. Her children and grandchildren brought a great deal of joy to her life as she did to their lives.
Laura is survived by her husband of 60 years, Ed Bates of Ashland; two daughters, Sandra (Cliff) Watson of Ruggles and Jane Bunn of Ashland; two sons, Mike (Trudy) Bates and Dave (Lida) Bates both of Ashland; seven grandchildren, Josh Bates, Kristin Stover, Megan Daniel, Tony Bunt, Misti Morgan, Kaley Wickham and Dusty Bates; numerous great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; Nicole McKay Bates of Wooster; and Suki Kudo of Columbus.
In addition to her parents, Laura was preceded in death by one sister, Anna Diller.
A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Nankin Federated Church, 795 Ohio 302, Nankin, with the Rev. Mike Berry and the Rev. Jacob Heskett officiating. Interment will follow in Nankin Cemetery. Friends may call 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 5, at Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home, 313 Center St., Ashland, and one hour before the service on Saturday at the church from 10 to 11 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Laura R. Bates Scholarship Fund, c/o Sandra Watson, 313 Center St., Ashland, Ohio 44805; or to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1050 Dauch Drive, Ashland, Ohio 44805; or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Online condolences may be shared on the funeral home's website at www.dpkfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. (T-G 06/03/15)
Laura R. Bates, 82, of Ashland passed away Monday evening, June 1, 2015, at Hospice of North Central Ohio following a brief illness.
She was born on Sept. 7, 1932, to the late Roy and Orpha (née McKenzie) Miller.
Laura graduated from Dalton High School, class of 1950. After high school, she went on to earn a bachelor's degree in education from Ashland College in 1954.
Laura married the love of her life, Edward R. Bates on Aug. 21, 1954.
She began her teaching career in Ontario. Laura taught several years at Polk High School. She later returned to teaching, after taking several years off to raise her family, in 1965 at Mapleton Local Schools, where she retired in 1987. Affectionately known to the Mapleton community as "Ma Bates," she was an avid Mountie enthusiast for academics, drama club, all athletics and music. Laura went on to serve for 12 years on the Mapleton School Board, on which she was instrumental in establishing an all-day kindergarten. She was recognized by the Ashland Times-Gazette in 2014 as a teacher, volunteer and school board member for 50 years in Mapleton Local Schools.
Laura enjoyed spending time with her family, including her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an inspiration and role model to all those who were fortunate enough to know her. Laura loved hosting family events at her home during the holidays. She loved inviting family and friends in the summer to join her around her swimming pool. Her children and grandchildren brought a great deal of joy to her life as she did to their lives.
Laura is survived by her husband of 60 years, Ed Bates of Ashland; two daughters, Sandra (Cliff) Watson of Ruggles and Jane Bunn of Ashland; two sons, Mike (Trudy) Bates and Dave (Lida) Bates both of Ashland; seven grandchildren, Josh Bates, Kristin Stover, Megan Daniel, Tony Bunt, Misti Morgan, Kaley Wickham and Dusty Bates; numerous great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; Nicole McKay Bates of Wooster; and Suki Kudo of Columbus.
In addition to her parents, Laura was preceded in death by one sister, Anna Diller.
A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Nankin Federated Church, 795 Ohio 302, Nankin, with the Rev. Mike Berry and the Rev. Jacob Heskett officiating. Interment will follow in Nankin Cemetery. Friends may call 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 5, at Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home, 313 Center St., Ashland, and one hour before the service on Saturday at the church from 10 to 11 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Laura R. Bates Scholarship Fund, c/o Sandra Watson, 313 Center St., Ashland, Ohio 44805; or to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1050 Dauch Drive, Ashland, Ohio 44805; or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Online condolences may be shared on the funeral home's website at www.dpkfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. (T-G 06/03/15)
She was born on Sept. 7, 1932, to the late Roy and Orpha (née McKenzie) Miller.
Laura graduated from Dalton High School, class of 1950. After high school, she went on to earn a bachelor's degree in education from Ashland College in 1954.
Laura married the love of her life, Edward R. Bates on Aug. 21, 1954.
She began her teaching career in Ontario. Laura taught several years at Polk High School. She later returned to teaching, after taking several years off to raise her family, in 1965 at Mapleton Local Schools, where she retired in 1987. Affectionately known to the Mapleton community as "Ma Bates," she was an avid Mountie enthusiast for academics, drama club, all athletics and music. Laura went on to serve for 12 years on the Mapleton School Board, on which she was instrumental in establishing an all-day kindergarten. She was recognized by the Ashland Times-Gazette in 2014 as a teacher, volunteer and school board member for 50 years in Mapleton Local Schools.
Laura enjoyed spending time with her family, including her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an inspiration and role model to all those who were fortunate enough to know her. Laura loved hosting family events at her home during the holidays. She loved inviting family and friends in the summer to join her around her swimming pool. Her children and grandchildren brought a great deal of joy to her life as she did to their lives.
Laura is survived by her husband of 60 years, Ed Bates of Ashland; two daughters, Sandra (Cliff) Watson of Ruggles and Jane Bunn of Ashland; two sons, Mike (Trudy) Bates and Dave (Lida) Bates both of Ashland; seven grandchildren, Josh Bates, Kristin Stover, Megan Daniel, Tony Bunt, Misti Morgan, Kaley Wickham and Dusty Bates; numerous great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; Nicole McKay Bates of Wooster; and Suki Kudo of Columbus.
In addition to her parents, Laura was preceded in death by one sister, Anna Diller.
A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Nankin Federated Church, 795 Ohio 302, Nankin, with the Rev. Mike Berry and the Rev. Jacob Heskett officiating. Interment will follow in Nankin Cemetery. Friends may call 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 5, at Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home, 313 Center St., Ashland, and one hour before the service on Saturday at the church from 10 to 11 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Laura R. Bates Scholarship Fund, c/o Sandra Watson, 313 Center St., Ashland, Ohio 44805; or to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1050 Dauch Drive, Ashland, Ohio 44805; or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Online condolences may be shared on the funeral home's website at www.dpkfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. (T-G 06/03/15)
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