REVEREND R. BURTIS BATES, 98, died October 27, 1997.

Rev. Bates was born December 10, 1898 in Madison County, the eldest son of John Henry and Lillie Seay Bates.

He was married on November 3, 1920 to Panama Matthews who preceded him in death one year ago on October 27, 1996.

He entered the Methodist Ministry in 1925 and was ordained an elder in 1929. At the time of his death, he was the oldest member of the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was a graduate of Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas and of Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas. He also attended Perkins Theological Seminary, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. Rev. Bates served pastorates throughout the Texas Conference from 1925 until his retirement from the active ministry in 1964. He continued to serve a pastorate in Madison Co. after retirement until 1978. In 1946 he was chosen by then Bishop A. Frank Smith as one of the Top Evangelistic Ministers of the Texas Conference. In 1965 he was inducted into Who's Who in the Methodist Church for outstanding achievement in Small Church Ministry.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two sisters Trudy Spivey and Mable Tabb and one brother, Brooks Bates.

Survivors are daughter, Burtis Henderson of Houston, granddaughter Dr. Kathy L. Henderson, grandson-in-law Dr. L. Frederick Church Jr. and two great grandchildren, Katie and Daniel Church of Little Rock, AR. Five sisters, Annie Wells, Huntsville, TX; Hedy Black, Conroe, TX; Viola Eason, Splendora, TX; Pearl Robinson, Houston; and Elwanda Andrews, Madisonville, TX; one brother, Bryan Bates of Caldwell, TX, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be conducted at 11 A.M. Thursday, October 30, at the First Methodist Church, Madisonville, TX. with Dr. Royce Robb, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, Baytown, Tx. officiating and assisted by Rev. LeRoy Stanton, retired.

Pallbearers will be Charles Bates, Don Bates, John Black, Elliott Lansford, Q.Z. Sloan and Roscoe Bayless. Honorary pallbearers will be John Dean Carter and Ross Garrett.

Services under the direction of J.M. Day Funeral Home, 514 E. Main, Madisonville, TX (409) 348-2621.

Source: Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX., Wednesday, 10/29/1997

NOTE: Rev. Robert Burtis Bates, s/o John Henry Bates and Lillie Bell Seay; buried: Allphin Cem., Madison Co. TX.