Betty Wise Bates

Betty Wise Bates, 89, passed from this life on December 8, 2014, surrounded by family in Gulfport. Betty was born in Pass Christian on August 4, 1925, and remained a resident her entire life. She attended at St. Joseph School until eighth grade and then went on to Pass Christian High School where she graduated as Valedictorian of her 1943 class winning a full scholarship to Perkinston Jr. College, in Perkinston, MS.
She was a lifetime member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary of Cecil R. Ruddock, Post 1539 in Pass Christian serving as President and was District One Secretary, and a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary at Eddie Blake Post 3937 in Long Beach, where she was a past Secretary. Betty was a past member of the Pass Christian Ladies Garden Club and enjoyed many happy times with the members. She was also a member of the Pass Christian Friends of the Library. Betty was an owner in Mitchell's Furniture Store, a family owned and operated business. Betty worked six days a week for over 30 years in the business until she was 80 years of age. She was the epitome of a Southern lady who always put her family first and foremost enjoying many family times and loved her hometown and the people that live in the ""Pass."" She was loved by many and will be missed.
She was predeceased by her husband, Charles L. Bates Sr.; her parents, Theo and Lena Byais Wise, her sisters, and their husbands, Bernice (Red) Williams, and Martha (Lester) Garriga and her nephews, Kenny, Danny, Raymond Williams and Teddy Netto.
She is survived by her children, Judith Bates and Sissy Brattain, both of Pass Christian, Kathy (Keith) Mitchell of Long Beach, Charlie Bates, Jr. of Long Beach, and Mitchell (Donna) Bates of Waveland; her grandchildren, Stacy (Kirk) Neely of Kansas City, MO, Kevin (Roni) Hanks, of Baton Rouge, LA, David Hanson (Alisa) of Gainesville, FL, Shelley Hanson of Gulfport, Rebekah Koby and Chuck Bates both of Long Beach, Sherri (Tommy) Bolke of Olive Branch, MS; her great grandchildren, Brooke Bolke, Christian & Carter Hanson, Savannah Wheat, and Sarah Koby; her nieces, Pattie Williams Olson and Margie Netto Schroeder of Pass Christian; her nephews, Lester Garriga of Long Beach and David Williams of Pass Christian, other relatives and many friends.
Pallbearers will be Chuck Bates, Kevin Hanks, David Hanson, Christian Hanson, Lester Garriga, and Carter Hanson with Loni Jenkins and Ricky Smith to serve as honorary pallbearers.
A Prayer Service will be held on Friday, December 12, 2014, at 12'Noon at Holy Family Catholic Church in Pass Christian, where friends may visit from 10:30 a.m. until service time.
Interment will be held on Monday, December 15, 2014, at 12:30 p.m. at Biloxi National Cemetery.
The family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the National Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. (Floor 17), Chicago, IL 60601, a nonprofit organization.
Riemann Family Funeral Home, 9113 Kiln Delisle Road in Pass Christian, served the family.
For more information, please call (228)539-9800.