Ernestine Bates

She was born September 22, 1927 to John Rufus Thurlkill and Eugenior Moore Thurlkill. Before retiring she owned and operated Bates Upholstery. She was a member of the DAV, the Golden Agers and Mount Union Baptist Church.

Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband, Herbert Green Bates; two sons, Ernest Ray Bates and Herbert Glen Bates, her daughter Sharon Lee and a sister Etta Hux.

Survivors include her daughter, Mary Rea and husband Rodney of Warren, AR; grandsons, Willis Arthur Jones of El Dorado, Clifton Jolley of El Dorado, Mark Bates and wife Debra of El Dorado, Glen Bates and wife Stephanie of Cabot, AR, Anthony Bates of Rio Vista, TX and Jonathon Bates of Midland, TX; granddaughters, Michelle Temple and husband Dale of Denham Springs, LA, Carrie Johnson and husband Don of El Dorado, Melissa Smith and husband David of El Dorado and Racheal Bates of Dublin, Ireland; sisters, Joyce Ham, Willie Jean Lockey, Florence Williamson and Carolyn Barber and husband Don and a brother R. Virgil Thurlkill and wife Mary.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 26, 2012 at Mt. Union Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Smyrna Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.

Visitation will be held 5:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Mt. Union Baptist Church Bus Fund, 653 Mt. Union Rd., El Dorado, AR 71730.

An online guest registry will be available at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.