Ronnie Ray Bates, husband, father and grandfather, passed away on March 26, 2018. He was 70 years old. He was born on October 3, 1947 in Corsicana, Texas to James Randle Bates and Florence Conger Bates. He was raised in Kerens, Texas and graduated from Kerens High School in 1965. He resided in Kerens until he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Carolyn Teague on April 18, 1969 at the First United Methodist Church in Kerens, Texas.
Ron served 6 years in the Army Airborne National Guard and he and Betty moved to Dallas in 1969 where he worked for Mobil Oil Corporation while going to night school. He graduated with a BA degree in management from Southern Methodist University in 1974. He held many positions with Mobil during his 32 years of employment and worked in Dallas, Texas; Manhattan, New York; Denver, Colorado; and Houston, Texas. He retired in 2001 while holding the position of Manager-Regulatory Compliance for the E&P North American Division.
Ron and Betty moved to Goldthwaite, Texas in 2001 where they raised show quality South African Boer Goats on a 75-acre ranch. They were members of the First United Methodist Church of Goldthwaite and Ron was a member of the choir and a men’s quartet that performed at special events and funerals. Ron was also a member of the Mills Tones, a Barbershop Chorus.
They moved to Kaufman in 2007 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. He and Betty are members of the First United Methodist Church in Kaufman, where Ron was a member of the choir, the United Methodist Men, the Sunshine Gang, The Emergency Disaster Response Team, the Agape Sunday School Class and The Trustees.
Ron said that the Lord Jesus Christ was with him every day showing him the way and making his pathway easier through difficult times.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents; and by his twin sister Ronda Becker.
He is survived by the love of his life, wife Betty of almost 49 years; two children (son and daughter-in-law) Jeffrey Scott and Catherine Denise Bates of Waxahachie, Texas and (daughter and son-in-law) Ashley Kay and Joshua Neil Ebarb of Allen, Texas; one granddaughter Brittany Catherine Bates; three grandsons; Parker Neil, Peyton Ryan and Teagan Alexander; and numerous extended family and friends who will miss him dearly.
In lieu of flowers Ron has requested, memorial donations be made to the FUMC/Kaufman-Special Memorial Fund at First United Methodist Church of Kaufman, 208n S. Houston St., Kaufman, Texas 75142.
