Dollie Mae Bates

Dollie Mae (Dotson) Bates passed away on 28 February 2025 in Las Vegas, NV, after being a resident of Elkhorn Jones Memory Care for the past eight years. She was 92 . Dollie was born on 14 October 1932 in Denison, TX to Richard Roy Dotson and Eddie Mae (Parr) Dotson. Dollie received her early education in Denison, TX graduating from Denison High School in 1950. She married Lyman Lavern Bates on 20 December 1952 in Runge, TX. The marriage was performed by her brother-in-law, Wallace Ellsworth Mynatt, a minister of the Church of Christ, and witnessed by her sister, Edith Melvina (Dotson) Mynatt and nephew, Wallace Edward Mynatt. The couple had two children, Lynnda Yvonne who was born at Perrin Field AFB, TX and Mark Allen who was born in Tachikawa, Japan. Lyman served in the Air Force for 26 years with the family stationed at several locations home and abroad. Upon his retirement, the pair settled in Lompoc, CA in 1973.

Dollie attended Allen Hancock College in Santa Maria, CA, receiving her AS degree in Early Childhood Education. She worked for Santa Barbara County’s pre-school program as a substitute for a short time before becoming the Director of Growing Years Child Care Center. She next worked for Vandenberg AFB Child Care Center and then worked as a teacher at the Montessori Children’s House for the last ten years of her career. Dollie also taught pre-school classes for the Church of Christ where she was a long-standing member for over 40 years. Lyman died in 2004. In 2014, she moved to Sun City, CA to be closer to her daughter.

Dollie loved to travel, work in her yard and had several talents. She was an accomplished artist and loved working with oils.

Dollie had one sister, Edith Melvina (Dotson) Mynatt, and three brothers: Richard Edward Dotson, Bennie Ray Dotson, and Tommie Joe Dotson. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, her parents, her sister, Edith, and her brothers, Richard and Bennie. She is survived by her daughter, Lynnda Steele (Michael) and their two sons, Sean and Benjamin, and her son, Mark (Melanie) and their two daughters, Stephanie Vegas (JP) and Jennifer Garcia. She has three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Despite living in many places around the world, she always said her heart belonged to the place where she grew up – Denison, TX.

Dollie is to be buried with her husband in Evergreen Cemetery, Lompoc, CA. No services will be held at this time. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.