Obituary of Erma Bates

Erma Irene Bird Bates was born on July 29, 1914 in Yost, Box Elder County, Utah in a log cabin with a dirt floor. She peacefully passed away on November 24, 2012 in her 99th year, at home in the presence of her loving family. She was a creative genius who delighted in creating beauty out of ordinary everyday things. She loved her family, her friends and flowers of every kind. She will be missed and remembered for her strong faith in Jesus Christ, her industry and tireless work ethic, and her faithful service to her family, her church, and her community. Although blind for the last 16 years, she continued to sew, craft, and create, gifting her wonderful treasures to all who entered her home. Her life is marked by her love and devotion to her companion of 66 years, Charles Ray Bates. She was preceded in death by a beloved son, Charles Dennis Bates, and a grandson, Gates Wayne Christensen. She is survived by her husband, Charles Ray Bates, her sisters Bernadine Peterson and Marla Jean Stott, and her children and their spouses: Gary and Lorene Christensen, Vicki Ann Pearson, Ladd and Pat Christensen, Steven and Julie Bates, Sandra and Mike Deakins, Birdella Bates and Collene Irene Bates. She also leaves behind a beautiful and vibrant posterity of 39 grandchildren, 110 great grandchildren, and 22 great, great grandchildren. Following her internment at the Pines Cemetery, a memorial service will be held on Saturday Dec. 1st, at 1:00 p.m. at the Evergreen Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 16th Ave. and Evergreen in Spokane Valley. The family requests any memorial contributions to be sent to the Lilac Services for the Blind, 1212 N. Howard St. Spokane, WA. 99201.