James Bates

James William Bates, of Lyons, passed away on Monday, March 4 in Bryan.

Visitation for James will be Wednesday, March 6 at Strickland funeral Home in Somerville from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., Thursday, March 7 from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. Funeral Service will be Friday, March 8 at Evangelical United Church of Christ at 2 p.m. with interment at Evangelical United Church of Christ Cemetery in Lyons.

James, affectionately known as Jimmy, was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend. He was a member of Evangelical United Church of Christ in Lyons, past President of brotherhood of Rail Road-Steamship clerks, TCU Lodge 886. He retired from the tie plant after working 40 years. Jimmy also enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing dominoes and pool and watching T.V. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

James is survived by his wife, Elsie Schubert Bates; son, Jay Clark Bates; daughter, Ann Jeanette “Angie” Bates; sister, Georgia Kay Hawthorne; Nieces, Dale Lynn Nuaman and husband Elias, Dusti Anderson and husband Tim, Kacy Tomlin and husband Kyle and nephew, Kyle Novosad and wife Kristy.

He is preceded in death by his parents, George William and Celesta F. Bates; grandparents, James Clark Bates and Annie (Wuenscher) Bates, Adolph and Annie (Albright) Schultz and brother-in-law, Dale Hawthorne.

Pallbearers are Tim Richardson, Billy Richardson, Timothy Anderson, Kyle Novosad, Kyle Tomlin, Edward “Scooter” Hill, Sammie Brinkman and Bill Hopson.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Strickland Funeral Home in Somerville. We invite you to visit our website at www.stricklandfuneralhomes.com and sign the online register book.