Douglas Edward Bates

Douglas Edward Bates was born October 24, 1937 to the union of Charles Dorsey Bates, Sr. and Edmonia Amelia Wright. He was the oldest of four children born to this couple. The family resided in Baltimore, Maryland. Douglas was educated in the Baltimore public school system. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps serving for thirty years and he earned the nickname "Wolfie".

Douglas served at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Parris Island, South Carolina, Oahu, Hawaii as well as Okinawa. He was transferred to Kansas City, Missouri where he was the Supervisor of Data Management at the USMC Finance Center. After retirement, he was called back for Operation Desert Storm.

Douglas married Shirley Dorsey and the union produced one daughter, Denise Virginia. Later he married Barbara Sherman and this union also produced a daughter, Nicole Angel. Both marriages ended in dissolution.

Desiring to get away from the military, Douglas remained in Kansas City and became a Bus Operator with The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. He loved talking with the passengers and he received many accolades and honors which enabled him to be promoted to Road Supervisor. He retired after twenty-one years of service.

While working as a Bus Operator, he met Patricia Burgess; the two became one and they traveled extensively with his bowling team, The Jive Turkeys, as well as vacation trips. "Wolfie" loved bowling, dancing and roller skating, even purchasing his own skates. He was always jovial and loved to tease and joke with everyone that he met. His smile was infectious and everyone loved being around him. He joined the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church where he served as a Greeter.

Douglas passed away after a brief illness; he will be sorely missed. He often stated that he did not believe in "step-children" and he leaves to cherish his memory, his doting wife, Patricia; daughters, Denise Ballinger and Nicole Conaway; extra sons, Norris Ashley and Darryl Ashley; extra daughters, Bianca Hines (Wyndell) and Patrice Burgess; special daughter-in-law, Brandy Burgess; brothers, Charles D. Bates, Jr. (Joyce) and Rev. H. Donald Bates (Kaye); sisters, Patricia Boyd and Charlene Smith (Eric); sisters-in-law, Barbara Walker, Sherryl Lee (Robert), and Regina Hill; brother-in-law, Victor Hill; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

A Visitation will be held on February 6, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, located at 2200 Olive Street, Kansas City, MO, 64127. The Memorial Service will follow at the same venue at 11:00 am. A Committal service will follow the service at 12:00 pm in Forest Hill & Calvary Cemetery, 6901 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO, 64131. A repass will follow the committal from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm at Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church.