Melissa Jean Bate

Melissa Jean Reynolds-Bate, often referred to as “Missy” by family and friends, left us to join our heavenly father on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. She was born in Hanford, Ca to Carol Jean Likes Reynolds and Francis Elsworth Reynolds on August 17, 1968. She remained a life-long Kings County resident; residing in Lemoore for over 20 years where she lived with her husband Charles “Chip” Bate and children Charlize (age 9), Ty (age 11) and Justin (age 23). Though our hearts remain heavy, they will heal; however, the imprint she made on them is forever.

Only 46 years old, Missy’s interests were as vast and far reaching as her accomplishments. One of the earliest known and most proficient talents was as a majorette. From the age of three until well into her 30’s, she likely participated in over a hundred Kings County Parades as a solo majorette, majorette coach, or color-guard coach. During all four years of high school at Hanford Joint Union High School from 1982-1986, she was a solo majorette with the band. It was not uncommon to see her twirling two and three batons at a time- most notable multiple fire-batons. On fire or not, she executed three-spins, blind-man-bluffs as transition tricks, double fingers, and any number of body roll combinations seemingly without effort. During high school and into early adulthood, she taught baton and dance at the Dance Factory Studio for over 10 years. Soon after high school and for another 10 years, she also coached and choreographed competition routines and parade stances for both winter guard and color-guard teams at Woodrow Wilson High School. She was an active member of the Lighthouse Fellowship Church congregation, taught the Children’s Program at the church, a well-known dance mom at Kings Dance Center and educator at an array of districts in both Kings and Tulare Counties. She was a cat fanatic and traveled extensively throughout California with her husband and three children.

High School graduation would be the first of many for Missy. She graduated from Hanford Joint Union High School in 1986, Fresno City College in 1988, California State University, Fresno in 1996, Fresno Pacific University in 2005 and attended Walden University from 2010 until her passing. She earned a bachelor of arts in Education and Human Development and a Clear Multiple Subject Credential from California State University Fresno, two master’s degrees from Fresno Pacific College (in Administration Services and Curriculum, Technology, and Peace/Conflict) and was ABD (All But Dissertation) toward a Doctorate of Education-Administrational Leadership for Teach Learning from Walden University. Her dissertation explored the role of Kagan’s cooperative grouping structures on the acquisition of language skills in English language learners.

She served in an array of positions during her tenure in the education field. She taught a number of grade levels from kindergarten to sixth grade at Hanford Elementary School District, Lemoore Unified School District and Corcoran Unified School District. She was also an Intervention Specialist, a Student Support Coordinator, and an Academic Coach at Corcoran Unified School District, Reef-Sunset Unified School District and Farmersville Unified School District.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Carol Reynolds. She is survived by her loving husband, Chip and their three children, Justin, Ty and Charlize, her siblings Buddy Reynolds and Paula Reynolds, her sister- and brother-in-law, Katherine and Rick Piehl, her niece and nephews Beau Reynolds and Stephanie and Stephen Souza, and Charles Bate, her father-in-law.

To those that really knew her, she will be remembered for her fire, intelligence, passion, quick wit, kindness and generosity. She will never be forgotten as her legacy lives on through the stories told by others who knew her as a wife, mother, sister, teacher, student, majorette, dancer, coach, administrator, and last but not least friend. She was loved by many and will be forgotten by few. Live your life as she would; love fiercely, give to others unconditionally and remain a lifelong student of something you love.

A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, August 1, 2015 at 10am at First Baptist Church 9125 13 ½ Ave. Hanford Ca., with burial to follow at Grangeville Cemetery.

Family and Friends are invited to view Missy’s legacy at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com and send condolences to the family.