Eastleen Bates

Wilson - Home Going services for Mrs. Eastleen (Gibson) Bates, 90, of Simon are scheduled for 2:00 PM Monday Nov. 29, 2021 at Alexander Gray Funeral Home Chapel of Wilson with Pastor Jim Roluti officiating. Interment will follow at Hewitt Cemetery.

Eastleen was born on Jan. 15, 1931 at Swink, OK to the late Mr. James Allen Gibson and Mrs. Merrie Esther (Powers) Gibson. She departed this life on Mon. Nov. 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, Ernestine, by telling her when they were born, she was kicking her out so she'd have more room. Eastleen was born with her tongue tied. Her mamma 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 3 R's, and how to scrap in the school yard. 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 when she was 16 and he 19 with her beloved brother “Hoot” and twin sister Earnestine as witnesses, on September 27, 1947.

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, then settled 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.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband Theodore Ray Bates; son, James Albert Bates; sisters, 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; son, Ruben Bates and wife Lea of Simon and Kenneth Bates and wife Brenda of Van Alstyne, TX; twin sister, Earnestine Goodrich of Salem, OR; grandchildren, Brian Gunter, Jeff Gunter, Michael Bates, Timothy Bates and Arawi Bates; 12 great-grandchildren 3 step great-grandchildren, and 2 step great-great grandchildren; numerous other family and friends.

Casket bearers will be Brian Gunter, Jeff Gunter, Michael Bates, Timothy Bates, Arawi Bates and Ryan Gibson.

Honorary Bearers are: Brayden Bates, Ethan Gunter, Constantine Bates and Augustus Bates

Family visitation will be held from 5 to 7pm Sunday evening at the funeral home in Wilson.

Condolences may be sent online at www.alexanderfuneralhome.org