PLYMOUTH – Margaret Louise Bates, 78, passed away at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 8, 2014, at Miller’s Merry Manor, Plymouth, after a 3-1/2-year battle with cancer. She was born Feb. 1, 1936, in Bourbon, the oldest daughter of Chester and Thelma Roahrig Hall. On April 8, 1956, at the Bourbon First United Methodist Church, she married James Allen Bates, who survives. She graduated with the Bourbon High School Class of 1954. After graduation she completed the X-ray technician course at Elkhart University of Indiana and worked in the X-ray department of the Huntington County Hospital. She was a lifelong resident of Bourbon and Tippecanoe townships in Marshall County. As the oldest child in her family growing up, she would help her dad with chores and drove the hay baler in the neighborhood in her younger years. She was raised up with horses and performed and showed at the Bourbon Fair, the Silver Dollar Saddle Club of Bourbon and was a member of the Diamond X Horse Campground of Peru. She took great pride being a devoted mother and wife. From her kitchen command post she enjoyed cooking and baking for her family and friends who stopped by. She was noted to have one of her many aprons on while doing her domestic chores and gardening that she preserved and shared. She delighted in watching her cows and calves. She enjoyed genealogy; she created the Bourbon High School Chronicle 100th Alumni Celebration book. She served as a Sunday school nursery teacher. As a member of 4-H and the county 4-H Health Queen, she was a 4-H leader and served on the Marshall County 4-H Council. She worked clerical for Bremen Corl Corporation, Romine Sunoco, Ball Auction and Metheny Elevator of Bourbon. She was Tippecanoe Township trustee clerk and was involved with the Bourbon Antique Tractor and Engine Show. She is lovingly remembered by her adoring husband James. Also surviving are four children: James “Jim” Bates Jr., Jo Bates, Judith (and spouse Marc) Weissert, Jon (and spouse Kim) Bates; five grandchildren: Jennifer (and spouse Wes) Backus, Jeff (and spouse Alisha) Bates, Kirk (and spouse Laura) Bates, Megan (and spouse Daniel) Semonis and Stacy (and spouse Mike) Robinson; two great-grandsons, Landon Bates and Owen Backus; two brothers, Chet (and spouse Jane) Hall and Steve (and spouse Rose Ann) Hall; a sister, Janet Trowbridge; a brother-in-law, Jay (and spouse Sue) Bates; a sister-in-law, Barb (and spouse Don) Faulkner; two aunts, Marilee Roahrig (and spouse Gene) Koontz and Wilma Hall Hepler; and Max, her loyal dog companion. Graveside services are at 2 p.m. today at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Bourbon. A private family celebration will be at Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, Plymouth. ***** Memorials to the Community Hospital of Bremen and the Plymouth Cancer Institute. Condolences may be sent via www.johnson-danielson.com
