Lester Bates, son of the late Arlo and Edith (Cunningham) Bates, was born February 18, 1943, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and passed away September 26, 2020, at Mercy in Springfield, Missouri. He was 77 years, 7 months, and 8 days of age. Lester lived his early years in Raton, New Mexico. When his family moved to Missouri, he went to elementary school at Long Valley School and graduated from Plato High School. After graduation, he joined the United States Army and served a year in Korea. He married Venita Kimrey on August 7, 1964. Two children were born to this union, James and Penny. They were married for 52 years before she passed away. Lester worked civil service in the motor pool at Fort Leonard Wood. After retiring, he didn’t stop working. He was a contract carrier for the postal service and he and Venita delivered mail for many years. In his spare time, he loved cutting wood and working on wood crafts. He was also involved with the Huggins Fire Department for many years. One of Lester’s greatest joys was his grandchildren. He will be missed by all his family and friends. Besides his parents and his wife, Venita, Lester was preceded in death by one brother, Leroy Bates, and one sister, Gaylene Morehouse. He is survived by his son, James Bates and his wife, Carla, of Huggins, Missouri, his daughter, Penny Cornelison of Huggins, Missouri, five grandchildren, Stephanie Amos and her husband, Josh, Ryan Bates, Erin Malley and her husband, Dylan, Amber Hildebrand, and Whitney Cornelison, four great-grandchildren, Hannah Curtis, Isaac Amos, Lukas Cornelison, and Phoenix Hildebrand, and many other relatives and friends. The family is planning a memorial service at a later date.