Martha Gray Shirley Bates, 78, was born in January of 1939, and passed away on February 1st, 2017. She lived in many places across the country, but laid down roots in Scottsdale, Arizona. She was an accomplished business woman. Martha Gray grew up in Greenwood, Virginia and her final wishes were to be buried along with her mother and father at Emmanuel Church, Greenwood, Va.
She started off her career as a school teacher, but then later began a Shaklee business distributing natural vitamins and nutritional supplements, and natural makeup. She loved innovation and creativity and interacting with new people, and she spent most of her life involved with health and healing. She would say her first love and proudest accomplishments were her four sons. Martha poured her life into her boys and they grew up knowing how much they meant to her, as she was always there for them, and would do anything to support them and their dreams. Anyone that knew Martha would know about her "four boys" and their achievements, because she was very proud and always boasting about them!
Martha continued her business through out her life and later endeavored in her project to help educate children through a character that she created named "Sezooks". Although she wasn't able to get her dream off the ground, she put forth quite an effort and investment for many years and maybe someday something will become of her Sezooks!
About three years ago Martha had a stroke that drastically changed her life of being an independent business woman to living with the struggles of Vascular Dementia. Her personality and joy persevered through her condition and she enjoyed happiness from socializing with others in her community. Her smile would bring a smile on anyone.
Martha is survived by her brother, Shannon Shirley; her four sons, Robert Saunders, Bailey Saunders, Bart Bates, and Ben Bates, as well as nine grandchildren.
A small family graveside service will be held at Emmanuel Church,7599 Rockfish Gap Turnpike,Greenwood, VA 22943, on Friday, February 24, 2017, at 1 p.m.In lieu of sending flowers, please make a donation to Emmanuel Church, Greenwood. www.emmanuelgreenwood.org.
(Daily Progress)
She started off her career as a school teacher, but then later began a Shaklee business distributing natural vitamins and nutritional supplements, and natural makeup. She loved innovation and creativity and interacting with new people, and she spent most of her life involved with health and healing. She would say her first love and proudest accomplishments were her four sons. Martha poured her life into her boys and they grew up knowing how much they meant to her, as she was always there for them, and would do anything to support them and their dreams. Anyone that knew Martha would know about her "four boys" and their achievements, because she was very proud and always boasting about them!
Martha continued her business through out her life and later endeavored in her project to help educate children through a character that she created named "Sezooks". Although she wasn't able to get her dream off the ground, she put forth quite an effort and investment for many years and maybe someday something will become of her Sezooks!
About three years ago Martha had a stroke that drastically changed her life of being an independent business woman to living with the struggles of Vascular Dementia. Her personality and joy persevered through her condition and she enjoyed happiness from socializing with others in her community. Her smile would bring a smile on anyone.
Martha is survived by her brother, Shannon Shirley; her four sons, Robert Saunders, Bailey Saunders, Bart Bates, and Ben Bates, as well as nine grandchildren.
A small family graveside service will be held at Emmanuel Church,7599 Rockfish Gap Turnpike,Greenwood, VA 22943, on Friday, February 24, 2017, at 1 p.m.In lieu of sending flowers, please make a donation to Emmanuel Church, Greenwood. www.emmanuelgreenwood.org.
(Daily Progress)
Martha Gray Shirley Bates, 78, was born in January of 1939, and passed away on February 1st, 2017. She lived in many places across the country, but laid down roots in Scottsdale, Arizona. She was an accomplished business woman. Martha Gray grew up in Greenwood, Virginia and her final wishes were to be buried along with her mother and father at Emmanuel Church, Greenwood, Va.
She started off her career as a school teacher, but then later began a Shaklee business distributing natural vitamins and nutritional supplements, and natural makeup. She loved innovation and creativity and interacting with new people, and she spent most of her life involved with health and healing. She would say her first love and proudest accomplishments were her four sons. Martha poured her life into her boys and they grew up knowing how much they meant to her, as she was always there for them, and would do anything to support them and their dreams. Anyone that knew Martha would know about her "four boys" and their achievements, because she was very proud and always boasting about them!
Martha continued her business through out her life and later endeavored in her project to help educate children through a character that she created named "Sezooks". Although she wasn't able to get her dream off the ground, she put forth quite an effort and investment for many years and maybe someday something will become of her Sezooks!
About three years ago Martha had a stroke that drastically changed her life of being an independent business woman to living with the struggles of Vascular Dementia. Her personality and joy persevered through her condition and she enjoyed happiness from socializing with others in her community. Her smile would bring a smile on anyone.
Martha is survived by her brother, Shannon Shirley; her four sons, Robert Saunders, Bailey Saunders, Bart Bates, and Ben Bates, as well as nine grandchildren.
A small family graveside service will be held at Emmanuel Church,7599 Rockfish Gap Turnpike,Greenwood, VA 22943, on Friday, February 24, 2017, at 1 p.m.In lieu of sending flowers, please make a donation to Emmanuel Church, Greenwood. www.emmanuelgreenwood.org.
(Daily Progress)
She started off her career as a school teacher, but then later began a Shaklee business distributing natural vitamins and nutritional supplements, and natural makeup. She loved innovation and creativity and interacting with new people, and she spent most of her life involved with health and healing. She would say her first love and proudest accomplishments were her four sons. Martha poured her life into her boys and they grew up knowing how much they meant to her, as she was always there for them, and would do anything to support them and their dreams. Anyone that knew Martha would know about her "four boys" and their achievements, because she was very proud and always boasting about them!
Martha continued her business through out her life and later endeavored in her project to help educate children through a character that she created named "Sezooks". Although she wasn't able to get her dream off the ground, she put forth quite an effort and investment for many years and maybe someday something will become of her Sezooks!
About three years ago Martha had a stroke that drastically changed her life of being an independent business woman to living with the struggles of Vascular Dementia. Her personality and joy persevered through her condition and she enjoyed happiness from socializing with others in her community. Her smile would bring a smile on anyone.
Martha is survived by her brother, Shannon Shirley; her four sons, Robert Saunders, Bailey Saunders, Bart Bates, and Ben Bates, as well as nine grandchildren.
A small family graveside service will be held at Emmanuel Church,7599 Rockfish Gap Turnpike,Greenwood, VA 22943, on Friday, February 24, 2017, at 1 p.m.In lieu of sending flowers, please make a donation to Emmanuel Church, Greenwood. www.emmanuelgreenwood.org.
(Daily Progress)
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