Mr. Paul J. Bates, 93, of Taft, Tennessee passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2024. He was a member of Taft Church of Christ. He was born Sept. 4, 1931.

 Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Shelby and Lila Bates; his wife of 63 years, Thelma Bates; sisters, Evelyn Rozell, and Lillian Gertude Quick;  and brothers, Roy Sherman Bates, Thomas Glenn Bates and David Ray Bates.

He is survived by son, Charles E. Bates, and daughters, Barbara (Dean) Salisbury and Paula Koch; grandchildren, Michael Bates; Allen Koch and Jana Koch; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Parker;  and siblings, Claudia Moran, Jenell Tucker, Jimmie Bates, Jeff Bates, Dora Warren, Hollis Neuman “Sonny” Bates, and Mary Alice Smith.

The family will received friends on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, from at Higgins Funeral Home, Fayetteville, Tennessee.

Funeral services were at Higgins Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Tennessee on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, with Chaplain Charles E. Bates officiating. A burial followed the service at Blanche Cemetery, Blanche Tennessee.

Higgins Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Paul J. Bates.