Elizabeth Ruth Bates

September 18, 1941 – December 30, 2010

Elizabeth Ruth Bates was born on Sept. 18, 1941 in Kansas City, MO. Her father was Ronald Allen Bates and her mother was Helen Mae Sills Bates. She is survived by her life partner of many years, Mylene Hall of Houston, Texas; her brother Richard Allen Bates and sister-in-law Elaine Kahler Bates of Corpus Christi, Texas. She is also survived by her nephew Andrew Bates Cottonwood, Washington state; her dearest lifetime friend, Carol Craft and family from St. Louis, MO; her godsons, Joseph Craft, M.D. and Daemon Talton. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Pastor Eugene Field Bates. Bette graduated from Westport High School, Kansas City, Missouri. She then attended St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing, Kansas City, Missouri from 1959-1962, and then she entered the religious order of the Sisters of St. Mary Third Order of St. Francis, St. Louis, Missouri from 1962-1970, where she took the name of Sister Mary Ronald. She attended St. Louis University and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1968. In November of 1971, she was commissioned as a Captain in the United States Air Force Reserves. She was assigned to the 73rd AES of Scott Air Force Base in Bellville, Illinois from 1971-1986. From 1973-1975 she attended Barnes Hospital School of Anesthesia and graduated with her CRNA in Jan. of 1975. Colonel Bates was a Chief Flight nurse, Flight Nurse Instructor and Flight Nurse Examiner on the C9A. This was the Air Force Reserves only Medivac in the world. Colonel bates flew over 2000 hours in 15 years. She received her Chief Flight Nurse wings, and then was awarded the Air Force Accommodation medal. In addition she was promoted to Colonel. In January of 1986 she was transferred to the 11th contingency hospital, Willford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. She served as the Assistant Chief Nurse and then Chief Nurse from 1986-1996. November 8, 1990 was the last day of her 19 years as an Air Force Reservist. She was called to active duty during Desert Shield/Desert Storm and she served at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, New Mexico as a CRNA, nurse anesthetist. From 1978-1980 she attended Webster University and earned her Master’s degree in Human Relations. After a full career of nursing, anesthesia and 30 years in the Air Force, she retired in 2005 to enjoy her passions in life including gardening, birding, fishing and the solitude of the beach, wonderful friends, great travels, and a lifetime of great memories. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Wreaths across America http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/become-a-sponsor.html , any animal rescue shelter such as the houston humane society http://www.houstonhumane.org/donate/ or any Veteran’s Program such as the National VFW at http://www.vfw.org/Contribute/. A special thank you to Carol Craft, and Evie Maylath, St. Louis, Mo. Who were Bette’s constant companions, nurses and friends throughout her journey.

Arrangements under the direction of Kingwood Funeral Home, Kingwood, TX.