James "Dick" Richard Bates

James “Dick” Richard Bates, 80, of Pocahontas, Arkansas, passed away on Friday, November 27, 2020, at the Randolph County Nursing Home. Dick was born on Tuesday, January 23, 1940, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Rosco and Eileen Whalen Bates. Dick is preceded in death by his parents, Rosco and Eileen Whalen Bates; wife, Lola Buckley Bates; son, Richard Bates; daughter, Cheryl Stacey; brother, Irvin Sonny Hudelson; and good friend, Harold Reller. Dick is survived by his daughter, Tamatha Prater, of Thayer, Missouri; brother, Mike Bates, of Spanish Lake, Missouri; sisters, Debbie (Mike) Miller, of Florissant, Missouri, and Karen Bates, of Spanish Lake, Missouri; grandchildren, Priscilla Boswell, Joey Stacey, Jessica (Jason) Asher, Joshua Weir, Kyle (Lauren) Bates, Aaron (Kathryn) Tilley, Samantha (Kendall) Haines, and Krista Gabrielsen; stepchildren, Jerry Nash, Judy (David) Benoist, and Kathy (Mike) Wells; James Prater, Mary Hudelson, many great grandchildren, other loved ones and friends. Cremation has been chosen as the method of final disposition. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm, on Friday, December 4, 2020, at the Palestine Cemetery; Gerald Fears officiating. All arrangements are under the direction of the Hope Gardens Funeral Home in Pocahontas.