Elmer Eugene Bates “Elmo” died November 13, 2011 at the home of his daughter in Pavillion, Wyoming after a lengthy illness. He was 80 years old.
Elmer Eugene Bates was born July 26, 1931 in Lawrence, Kansas to Elmer Arthur Bates and Mabel Bates of Perry, Kansas. Known to most people by Gene or Elmo, he grew up on the family farm in Perry. He graduated from Perry High School and later from Kansas State University. He served as a Military Policeman in Korea and was part of the Grave Recovery Unit. He returned from service in 1955 and took over the family farm after his father’s death in 1955. Her married Joyce Magdelina Harper in 1954, the couple later divorced. Elmo had 4 daughters; all grew up on the family farm in Perry. Elmo farmed in Perry until his retirement in 2005.
Elmo was a great historian for information in the Perry, Kansas area. He had a good memory and told very interesting and entertaining stories about growing up on the family farm, which had been established by his ancestors in 1870’s just after the railroad was constructed in the area.
Elmo started vacationing in Dubois, Wyoming in 1966 and later bought property and built a home there. He enjoyed Dubois for its beautiful mountains, hunting, and all the colorful people there.
Elmo was preceded in death by his parents and older sister. His daughters Melinda Bates Otto and husband Dan of Lincoln, Nebraska, Erin Bates Shirley of Pavillion, Wyoming, Cathy Bates and husband Dick Jacques of Pavillion, Wyoming, and Jennifer Kloop and husband Matt of Lawrence, Kansas’s five grandchildren and one great-grand child, one niece, and two nephews survive Elmo.
No services are scheduled but a celebration of life gathering will be planned for Spring 2012 to be held in Dubois, Wyoming and Perry, Kansas.
Elmer Eugene Bates was born July 26, 1931 in Lawrence, Kansas to Elmer Arthur Bates and Mabel Bates of Perry, Kansas. Known to most people by Gene or Elmo, he grew up on the family farm in Perry. He graduated from Perry High School and later from Kansas State University. He served as a Military Policeman in Korea and was part of the Grave Recovery Unit. He returned from service in 1955 and took over the family farm after his father’s death in 1955. Her married Joyce Magdelina Harper in 1954, the couple later divorced. Elmo had 4 daughters; all grew up on the family farm in Perry. Elmo farmed in Perry until his retirement in 2005.
Elmo was a great historian for information in the Perry, Kansas area. He had a good memory and told very interesting and entertaining stories about growing up on the family farm, which had been established by his ancestors in 1870’s just after the railroad was constructed in the area.
Elmo started vacationing in Dubois, Wyoming in 1966 and later bought property and built a home there. He enjoyed Dubois for its beautiful mountains, hunting, and all the colorful people there.
Elmo was preceded in death by his parents and older sister. His daughters Melinda Bates Otto and husband Dan of Lincoln, Nebraska, Erin Bates Shirley of Pavillion, Wyoming, Cathy Bates and husband Dick Jacques of Pavillion, Wyoming, and Jennifer Kloop and husband Matt of Lawrence, Kansas’s five grandchildren and one great-grand child, one niece, and two nephews survive Elmo.
No services are scheduled but a celebration of life gathering will be planned for Spring 2012 to be held in Dubois, Wyoming and Perry, Kansas.