Betty Lynn Brooks Bates, 75, of Carthage, passed away Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, at Pinehurst Health and Rehab Center.
A celebration of life was held at 6 p.m Monday, Sept. 17, 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 Aug. 5, 1937, in Detroit, to Elmer Brooks and Tiny Frost Brooks Sr. She met and married Murray Quinn Bates, of Liberty, Miss., and settled in Vass. She was an avid skeet shooter, breaking gender barriers, and held several European titles as well as the Annie Oakley title at Pinehurst. In 1964 she ranked 6th 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., and Donald Brooks, of Corpus Christi, Texas; and 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; and son Richard “Ricky”Bates.
Online condolences may be made at www.coxmemorialfuneralhome.com.
The family has entrusted services to Cox Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory of Vass.