Roger (Buddy) Royce Bates

Buddy Bates, age 79, of Arnett, passed away Friday September 11, 2020 at his residence. Graveside services are scheduled for 2PM, Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at Seaton Cemetery. An open visitation will be from 10 AM to 5 PM Monday, September 14, 2020. Covid-19 mandates will be followed Roger “Buddy” Bates was born on May 14, 1941 to Roy Lee Bates and Rosalee Rodgers in Gatesville, Texas. He graduated from Gatesville High School and went to LSU on a band scholarship. In 1962, Buddy was married to Sarah Virginia Dunaway and they had three kids: Roger Royce Bates, Jr (Scooter), Marlon Lee Bates (Bubba), and Stacey Charmaine Bates Tippit. The family lived in Zachary, LA and Buddy worked at Georgia Pacific Paper plant. Buddy also enjoyed stock car racing, playing softball, leading the choir at his church, and worked as a day laborer for local ranchers. He taught all 3 kids to ride horses while also enjoying showing horses himself. In 1979, the family moved back to Gatesville so Buddy could go to Oklahoma Horseshoeing School to be a farrier, a long-time dream of his. Buddy went on to shoe horses for nearly 40 years. When Buddy wasn’t shoeing, he was enjoying breaking horses, team roping, going dancing, and telling jokes. On March 11, 2000, Buddy married Glena Jo Chumney and they have spent the last 20 years sharing their lives together. Buddy was always willing to help those in need by offering them odd jobs around his place. He never met a stranger and was loved by all. Buddy is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Rosmary Herbert, and his brother Larry Bates. He is survived by his wife; Glena, brother; Tommy Bates, his three kids Scooter Bates & wife Terri of Killeen, Bubba Bates of Gatesville, Stacey Bates Tippit of Groesbeck, three step-children: John Capella of Gatesville, Chad Horton of Riesel, and Christie Horton of Hutto; eight grandkids, eleven great-grandkids with two more on the way.