Obituary of Clayton Bates

Clayton Bates, beloved husband of Rosemary (Babs) Bates, of Cochrane passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 after a brave battle with cancer, at the age of 80 years. Clayton was born on May 29, 1926 in Gilbert Plains, MB. He worked with Square M Construction with heavy road equipment, then into Valleyview, AB, owning the Esso Garage. In the spring of 1959, they moved to High Prairie, AB and built the Prairie Drive Inn. On September 4, 1959, Clayton and Babs married in Westcott, AB and continued to run the Drive Inn Restaurant, later moving to the farm, which Clayton loved so much, with their family, where they enjoyed raising cattle and horses and made many friends. In later years, Clayton and Babs moved to Cochrane, AB to run the Pots and Peppers Store for many years, retiring in 2004. Clayton enjoyed his great collection of western movies and books. Besides his loving wife, Clayton is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, and two daughters and one son-in-law, Sydney and D’Anna, of Merit, TX, Tami Bates, of Vancouver, BC, Tim and Ashifa, of Surrey, BC and Brenda and Mark Friday, of Pittsburgh, PA; ten grandchildren, whom he truly enjoyed. He is also survived by his sister Stella McMullen of Gilbert Plains, MB, and two nieces Delores Vanderswaag, of Red Deer, AB and Sheron Bates, of Calgary. A Celebration of Clayton’s Life will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church (George Fox Trail and Highway 22, Cochrane, AB) on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. with the Pastor Rick Bergh, Presider. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Rosedale Hospice #900, 833 – 4 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3T5 Telephone: (403) 263-4525. In living memory of Clayton Bates, a tree will be planted at Fletcher Park Memorial Forest by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Cochrane Funeral Home, 369 RAILWAY STREET, COCHRANE. Telephone: (403) 932-4740.