Myrtle Jean Smith Bates

Myrtle Jean Smith Bates, 72 went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Myrtle was born May 31, 1944 in Bearden, Arkansas, the oldest of seven children born to Jesse and Sedalia Flint Smith. In 1956 the family moved to Phillipsburg, Kansas where Myrtle attended Phillipsburg high school. In 1962, she married Delano Bates. They lived in Hill City, Kansas and with their union had three children; Leslie-Franklin (Cooper) Bates, Lisa Michelle (Bates) Arreguin and Tracey Bates. Myrtle joined The Nicodemus Baptist Church and was a dedicated member for years. Her entire family participated in the choir. Myrtle was a fierce bowler, winning women's tournaments alongside her loving sister-in-law Billie Bates Brogden. In 1984, Myrtle moved to Arkadelphia, Arkansas where she lived out her remaining years. She was employed at the Arkadelphia Human Development Center. I'm her retirement years; Myrtle became a teacher’s assistant, and enjoyed helping children with their education. In her leisure, myrtle loved nothing more than to be out on the creek bank fishing with her niece Kristy Dan and long time friend Emma Cook, who endearingly called her "Marilyn." Myrtle enjoyed traveling with her sisters, Mary Ann Smith and Hazel Faye Summerville to see their uncle Henry Smith perform and other gospel groups; one of her favorites, Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's. She always looked forward to her brother Lee Vernon Smith coming down every year and staying with her. It pleased her heart to cook when his family, her children & grandchildren came to visit, as she showed her love through cooking. She was preceded in death by her parents; Jesse and Sedalia Smith; three brothers, John Henry Smith, AB Smith and Lee Herman Smith; three sisters, Ruth Smith, Mary Ann Smith and Sandra Kay(Smith)Opoku. She leaves behind two sisters, Hazel Faye (Smith) Summerville of Oklahoma City, OK, Virginia Smith of Arkadelphia, Arkansas and one brother, Lee Vernon Smith; three children, Leslie (Cooper) Bates of Los Angeles, CA, Lisa (Bates)Arragan, Topeka Kansas and Tracey Bates of Kansas City, KS; five grandchildren, Chad Bates, Steven Smith, Isaiah Smith all of Topeka, Kansas; Niazayre Bates of Ithaca, NY and Zayden Bates of Los Angeles, CA; one great grand-daughter Luna Bates, as well as, a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. A very special part of her life has been shared with her uncle Thomas Flint of Flint, MI, aunt Ola Faye Smith of Bearden, AR & Ernest Sonny Craig.