Sandra Kay Bates, 81 years of age and a longtime Hoquiam, Wash., resident, died at her Montesano, Wash., home on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018. She was born on Sept. 20, 1936, in San Bernardino, Calif., to Ira and Gladys (Burrill) Bechtold.
She was raised and attended school in LaHabra, Calif., and graduated from Fullerton Union High School in 1953.
On Oct. 27, 1954, Sandy married Charles E. Bates in Fullerton, Calif. He died on Nov. 11, 2007.
Following their marriage the couple made their home in Packwood, Wash., for nine and a half years. They moved to Saint Helens, Ore., in 1964, where Sandy was a librarian for the Warren School District.
They lived in Hoquiam since moving there in 1978.
For a few years Sandy was the “Story Stop” lady on the Channel 20 Christian Cable Ministries in Aberdeen.
She had worked as a children’s librarian at the Aberdeen Library for over 35 years.
Sandy was an active member of the Immanuel Baptist Church of Hoquiam since 1978. For numerous years she was their church organist / pianist. She was active in their Bible Studies and “wanted everyone to know that Jesus Loved Them”. She was a longtime member of the Christian Womens Club and loved being a wife, mother and grandma.
The couple enjoyed the family travel trailer trips to Bryce, Zion and Yellowstone.
Sandy enjoyed reading, reading and reading. She prided herself in being a superb story teller. Her travels allowed her to be a guest story teller at all kinds of groups that gathered at libraries, schools and area parks. Sandy loved visiting with her family and friends over a cup of coffee at all kinds of church functions and events.
Sandy is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Molly Bates of Montesano; her daughters, Twana and husband, Don Butkus of Pasco, Wash.; Shelly Cadd of Jordan, Jacque Glidden of Phoenix, Ariz. and Dani Gorden of Salt Lake City, Utah; her sisters, B.J. Jacobi of Brea, Calif., Karen and husband, Richard Ball and Carol and husband, Michael Patrick all of Salem, Ore.; 22 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren.
The family requests donations are sent to the For Him Building Fund, Immanuel Baptist Church, P. O. Box 703, Hoquiam, WA 98550.
A celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, at the Immanuel Baptist Church, 1200 Soule Avenue, Hoquiam, WA 98550 with Pastor Kent Gravley officiating.
Private inurnment will be held later at the Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum in Hoquiam.
Arrangements are by the Coleman Mortuary, 422 – 5th Street in Hoquiam, WA 98550.
Please take a few moments to record your thoughts for the family by signing the on line register at www.colemanmortuary.net.
