The Chickasha Express-Star
April 13, 2001

Funeral services for Jeffery Alan Bates, 30, will be held Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Alton Fannin officiating. Graveside rites will be at 3:30 at Rose Hill Cemetery in Chickasha, Oklahoma.

The son of the late Robert Bates and Annette Scaffetta, Jeff was born in Oklahoma City on July 20, 1970. He passed away April 10.

A graduate of Chickasha High School, Jeff received his bachelor's of science degree in finance from the University of Oklahoma.

He married Tracie Welch June 8, 1991, in Chickasha, and they moved to Ardmore in 1992, where he began working for Exchange Bank. He was vice president at BancFirst in the Commercial Lending Department.

Jeff was very active in his church, serving on the Baptist Foundation Advisory Committee as well as being a deacon. He and Tracie were members of the Young Adult II Sunday School Class, and Jeff has served as Department Director. He was also very active in the community, serving on the Ardmore Main Street Board, Southern Oklahoma Arts and Humanities Board, Habitat for Humanities, Sunshine Industries, Eastside Renaissance and Martin Luther King Outreach Center boards.

Jeff was a graduate of Leadership Ardmore Class 1997, worked with both the Ardmore Beautification Council and Art in the Park events. He was a member of the Ardmore Kiwanis Club, serving as treasurer and past board member.

Jeff is survived by his wife of the home, his mother Annette of Chickasha, his brother Brent of Norman, maternal grandmother Glennis Scaffetta of Chickasha, and his paternal grandparents Herbert and Cornelia Bates of Anadarko. He was preceded in death by his father Robert and his maternal grandfather.

Serving as bearers will be Steve Russell, Chad Graves, Mike Johnson, Stan Marshall, Greg Platt and Bob Dexter. Honorary bearers will be members of the Young Adult II Sunday School Class, deacons of the church, BancFirst employees and SOTC staff.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church building fund or the Baptist Foundation. Services will be under the direction of the Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home.Graveside rites will be at 3:30 at Rose Hill Cemetery in Chickasha, Oklahoma.