Tommy Bates

Tommy L. Bates, 88, of Grand View, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018 at a care center in Mountain Home.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Tommy was born May 28, 1929 at the family farm house in Ontario, Oregon to Ted and Frances (Gribble) Bates. He went to school in Grand View as a young child but the family moved to Nyssa, Oregon when he was a teen.

He graduated from Nyssa high school and while in high school he excelled in track and field. To this day, he still holds school records in track and field.

He met the love of his life as a junior in high school, Ellen McGee. They married in 1948 and were happily married for sixty-nine years.

He loved to hunt, fish and travel. They did so extensively, spending many years traveling between Alaska and Mexico.

He was also a charter member of the Lions Club in Grand View and also the first fire chief for the volunteer fire department.

Tommy loved to sing, whistle and tell jokes; he will be greatly missed.

Tommy is survived by his wife, Ellen; sister, Margo (Rick) Mack; son, Robert (Sherry) Bates; daughters, Margaret (Ray) Ratliff and Cathy Bates; granddaughters, Jessica (Mike) Dewitt, Shaela (Justin) Gage and Erika Bates; great-grandkids, Stetson Gilbert, Madison Gilbert, Tristan, Jack, and Austin Dewitt and Tristen Gage.

Tommy was preceded in death by both parents, Ted and Frances Bates; and brother, Alton Bates.

Memorials in his memory may be made to Knight Community Church, 630 Idaho Street, Grand View, Idaho, 83624.