Mrs. Betty Lynn Brooks Bates, 75, of Carthage, passed away Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, at Pinehurst Health and Rehab Center.
A celebration of life will be held Monday, Sept. 17, 2012, at 6 p.m at Cox Memorial Funeral Home chapel. She will be laid to rest beside her husband, Murray Quinn Bates, and son, Richard “Ricky” Bates, in Arlington National Cemetery,
Mrs. Bates was born on August 5, 1937, in Detroit, Mich., to Elmer Brooks and Tiny Frost Brooks Sr. She met and married Murray Quinn Bates of Liberty, Miss., and settled in Vass.
Mrs. Bates was an avid skeet shooter. Breaking gender barriers, she held several European titles as well as the Annie Oakley title at Pinehurst. In 1964 ,she ranked sixth at the nationals. She also enjoyed breeding hunting dogs as well as hunting. Her kind caring nature led her to enjoy a 30-year RN nursing career with focus on mental health.
She is survived by one daughter, Kristine “Kris” Driggers, of Cameron; one son, Murray James Bates, of McClellanville, S.C.; three brothers, Elmer Brooks Jr., of Florida, David Brooks and wife, Eli, of Marquette, Mich., Donald Brooks of Corpus Christi, Texas; four grandchildren, Eric Bates, Scarlet Bates, Kasey Peckinpaugh and Aaron Driggers.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Tiny Frost Brooks Sr.; her husband, Murray Quinn Bates; one son, Richard “Ricky” Bates.
Condolences may be sent to www.coxmemorialfuneralhome.com.
The family has entrusted services to Cox Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory of Vass.