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Eastleen (Gibson) & Theodore Ray Bates
 Tombstone Photo
 Hewett Cemetery

Wilson, Carter County, Oklahoma
© by Vonda Meadows

Obit for Eastleen posted by Martha Reddout
Jan 15, 1931 - Nov 22, 2021

© Marietta Monitor
3 Dec 2021, Page 4

Homegoing services for Eastleen Gibson Bates, 90, of Simon were held at 2 p.m. Monday, November 29 at Alexander Gray Funeral Home Chapel, Wilson with Pastor Jim Roluti officiating. Interment followed at Hewitt Cemetery.
 
Born January 15, 1931 at Swink, the daughter of James Allen and Merrie Esther Powers Gibson, she died Monday, November 22, 2021 at her daughter's residence in the Cheek community.
 
Eastleen, "Tub" to her family, was the second born of twins. She loved to irritate her twin sister, Earnestine, by telling her when they were born, she was kicking her out so she would have more room. Eastleen was born with her tongue tied. Her mama said that "she bawled so much she broke it loose". Family and friends would say after she learned to talk, she never shut up.
 
She was full of stories about her youth, learning her three R's, and how to scrap in the schoolyard She was a champion for the underdog and generous to a fault.
 
She met Theodore Ray Bates at his cousin's house but played it cool and didn't let him know she was smitten. Their early dates consisted of play parties in people's homes and sitting on the front porch of her parents' house reading books.
 
They eloped on September 24, 1947 when she was 16 and he 19 with her beloved brother "Hoot" and twin sister Earnestine as witnesses.
 
In the years to follow they became parents to Ruben, Coleen, Kenneth and James. During these years they lived in Oklahoma, Texas, California, and Oregon, settling for good in Oklahoma in 1962.

Eastleen gave every job she ever had her all. She picked cotton, worked the Oregon harvest, and as a nurse's aide. She was a magnet to people of all ages.
 
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Theodore Ray Bates; son, James Albert Bates; sister, Thelma Sims and Lois Heider; brothers, J.W. Gibson and Leroy "Hoot" Gibson; and most recently a beloved son-in-law, Jerry Gunter.
 
Survivors include daughter, Coleen Gunter of Cheek; sons, Ruben Bates and wife Lea of Simon and Kenneth Bates and wife Brenda of Van Alstyne, Texas; twin sister, Earnestine Goodrich of Salem, Oregon; grandchildren, Brian Gunter, Jeff Gunter, Michael Bates, Timothy Bates and Arawi Bates; 12 great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; two step great-great-grandchildren; and numerous other family and friends.

Serving as pallbearers were Brian Gunter, Jeff Gunter, Michael Bates, Timothy Bates, Arawi Bates and Ryan Gibson. Honorary bearers were Brayden Bates, Ethan Gunter, Constantine Bates and Augustus Bates.
 
Online guest book: alexanderfuneralhome.org Alexander-Gray
 
This obituary included a photo of Eastleen Gibson Bates.

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