Obituaries

JoAnn Marie Bates

Photo of JoAnn Marie Bates
JoAnn Marie Bates of Redfield died on April 30, 2013. Joann was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bates and her brother, Parnell Bates of Choctaw, Ark.; grandparents, Jess and Marie Bates and Mr. and Mrs. Jed McKay. Joann is survived by two brothers, Lanny Bates and Brent Bates and his wife Lori, also of Choctaw, Ark. She had two nephews that she loved dearly Casey and Brandon Bates and one great-niece, Lilie Kaice Watson. She is also survived by Lori Miller-Campbell; Lori's son, Bryan who she helped raise and Corbin Miller and Daltin, her God sons, who thought their Aunt Jo-Jo hung the moon. JoAnn had a very special friend Kecia Clark that lived with her for the past 15 years. There were a host of other people that were really close to JoAnn and considered her like family. JoAnn had been employed with the Pine Bluff Police Department since Jan. 20, 1992. She was promoted to sergeant on March 8, 2003. Sgt. Bates was promoted to lieutenant on March 30, 2012. During Lt. Bates' 21 years of service she served in the patrol division, the detective division where she worked with children who had been abused, the narcotics' division and her last assignment was in the Office of Professional Standards. JoAnn had a heart of gold and would do anything she could for anybody. She will be sorely missed by her family, friends and co-workers. She loved animals, fishing, riding 4-wheelers, paintball fights, boating, playing video games, hanging out with friends, and Scooby Doo. Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 5, from 2-4 p.m. at Choctaw Church of Christ at 233 Hwy 330 East in Choctaw. The funeral will be held at First Assembly of God Church located at 1002 Ridgeway Road in Pine Bluff, Ark. on Monday, May 6, 2013 at 10:30, with a visitation preceding at 9 a.m. There will also be a graveside service at Hunter Hill cemetery in Clinton, Ark. at 3 p.m. The family requests that memorials be sent to Pine Bluff Animal Shelter. Honorary pallbearers will be Chris Bates, Donnie Bates, Stanley Pruss, Tim Pruss, Todd Bates, Dana Golden. Pallbearers will be members of the Pine Bluff Police Department S.W.A.T. Pastor Gary Bell will officiate the ceremony. Arkansas Funeral Care located at 2620 West Main Street in Jacksonville is handling the arrangements. www.arkansasfuneralcare.com

Published May 5, 2013

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