Ernest Bates

Ernest Dewey Bates, 77, passed away on February 21, 2025.

He was born January 1, 1948, in Hornersville, Missouri, to William Bates and Muriel (Rollins) Bates.

Ernie if you will, was known as uncle Ernie to all, the smile he had was contagious, he never met a stranger.  You would see him sporting his Cardinal gear – go red birds, he enjoyed getting to go the games.  But he had another favorite ball team – PB Buddy Ball and all the friends he made during his time on the team. He would tell you “2 home runs”.

He had two people he would say you must believe in “God and HOHO”, HOHO had once told him he was his #1, he never forgot it.  Every year, he had visits or calls form HOHO’s friends who I want to thank – Mark Reckner, John McChesney, Tommy Watson, Charles Gates, Albert Spencer, HOHO from 1st Midwest Band and Paula Burke, thank you to Phillip and Leslie Lewis for always having uncle Ernie there for the Christmas party.  Thank you all for the joy and smiles you have brought to “our big kid”.

He had two elves (Elf of the shelf) Buddy and Bobby – they were always up to something, making a pretty good team, he would always wake up to see what they were going to do next.  Thank you to Amber Proffer and Donna and David Crowley for the gifts.

He enjoyed watching John Wayne – thank you Shawn for the deck of cards (the elves had him play a game with them), he loved singing with Elvis Presley – “Ain’t Nothing but A Hound Dog” and “Blue Swade Shoes” and singing in the car along to Tom Petty with Amber, and whatever jams him and his “A” would play.  Another favorite was “Bad to the Bone”.  He enjoyed traveling “hit the road” as he called it, fishing and wrestling.  He had attended four Dayhabs – his favorite teacher had gone with him to three of them – yes Amber – he was going wherever you went.

His last dayhab he was with Skillset, oh my- this is a wonderful “school” as he calls it, the staff are wonderful, his best and favorite teacher, Carleigh Vallance, he loves her.  Carleigh, I know you meant the world to him as much as he meant the world to you, thank you for all the time, laughs, and love you gave to uncle Ernie.

He is proceeded in death by his parents, and siblings; three sisters, Reba Prevatt Spears, Ruthie Withrow, Carolyn Sexton; and one brother Jimmy Ray Bates; two of his babes, Tonya Rae Sexton, and Daniel Wayne Wilkerson.

He is survived by his girlfriend (he calls wife) Susie Neil, and her sister (his friend) Kelly Neil.  His best friends, Joshua Knight, Tiffany Shockley, and Stephanie Hawn, his beloved puppy Cocoa.

He is also survived by a host of family member, his sister-in-law Janie Bates of Poplar Bluff; five aunts and one uncle, Janice Cockerham of Letona, Arkansas, Shirley Rollins of Judsonia, Arkansas, Maudie Stillman of Ferndale, Arkansas, Joyce Rollins of Fairmount, Indiana, Audry Bates of Michigan, and uncle Carroll Lee Rollins of Letona, Arkansas.

Surviving are all of his babes; Teddy D Luttrull of Poplar Bluff, Teddy M Luttrull of Poplar Bluff, Dustin Luttrull, Destiny Doublin and Haylen Grace Luttrull, all of Puxico; Jennifer (Travis) Davis, Trevor Davis and Bailey Davis all of Elsinore.

Shelli (Greg) Donley, Mychael Miller (Leslie Nelson), Beau Miller, Jonathan Miller, Alexis Breuning, Zander Blaine, Joshua (Cassie) Miller, Maverick Miller, Ace Miller, Ivy Rose Miller, all of Harviell.

Jessica (Brian) Beerup, Corbin Beerup, and Kenzi Beerup, all of Cape Girardeau.

Tracie (Ryan) Deschamp, Harley Deschamp, Maddie Deschamp, all of Poplar Bluff.

Mackenzy (Carel) Redden, Zuko Redden, Zion Redden, and Ryder Redden, all of Poplar Bluff.

Sherri (Albert) Spencer, Laura Glueck, Mattie Jones, Colt Parker, all of Ellsinore; and Lauren Spencer of Poplar Bluff.

Robin Prevatt of Bloomfield, Kyle Tomlinson of Poplar Bluff, Kayli Tomlinson, Williams Turner, and Wyatt Turner all of Fairdealing.

Tarah (Jonathan) Moore, Ledger Collins, Mabrey Collins, Rilynne Moore, all of Neelyville.

Tammy (David) Davis of Harviell, Justin Davis of Harviell, America and Holden Davis of Washington State, Ashley Burpo and Cameron Burpo both of Poplar Bluff, and Heaven Harper of St. Louis.

Jimmy (Nassra) Bates, and Gavin Bates of Williamsville.

Katie (Jacob) Garrett, and Roselyn Garrett, both of Poplar Bluff.

Brandon Bates of Nashville, Tennessee.

Jeffrey Bates (Krysten), Wesley Bates of Poplar Bluff.

Thomas (Jennifer) Sexton, and Damien Sexton of Myrtle Beach.

TJ Sexton, and Zakai Sexton of Poplar Bluff.

Terri Sexton of Poplar Bluff.

Tina (Geoff) Anderson, Nevaeh Dixon of Poplar Bluff.

Amber Whitworth, Malayah Beecham, Robert Beecham, and Noah Beecham, all of Poplar Bluff.

Courtnee Whitworth of St. Louis.

Derek Whitworth of Poplar Bluff.

Sheila (Paul) Swofford, Danielle Stewart, McKenna Stewart, Marley Stewart, Macyn Stewart, Maddox Stewart, Shawn Swofford, Charlotte Swofford, Jackson Swofford, Amanda (Gary) Gabor, and Olivia Gabor, all of Virginia Beach.

Tammy Wilkerson, Allysa Wilkerson, Darla Wilkerson, Dentin Morrill, Demi Morrill, Destiny Morrill, and Donald Morrill, Dakota Wilderson, Jonathan Gooch, and Samantha Wilkerson, all of Poplar Bluff.

Dennis (Kai) Wilkerson, Sage Wilkerson, and Lynnlee Wilkerson all of Fort Riley, Kansas.

Our family wants to thank Dr. Kenneth Li and nurses Penny and Christy for all of the care and love they have shown to Ernie over the years.

Thank you to Legacy Hospice for your care for Ernest.

Instead of flowers, we ask you to make a donation to his favorite baseball team – PB Buddy Ball in Polar Bluff, at the Parks and Recreation 430 N 2nd Street, Poplar Bluff, in care of buddyball in memo.  This is a program going to allow children with different abilities to continue playing for the love of the game.

We ask you to please wear a Cardinal Shirt, or your favorite baseball team shirt, if on the buddyball team, please wear your shirt, if you were a buddy for the buddyball, we ask you to wear your shirt.  If you were a Santa (HOHO) please wear your suit, he loves his best friend HOHO.

Pallbearers: Mychael and Joshua Miller, Shawn Swofford, Justin Davis, Teddy M and Dustin Luttrull, Trevor Davis, Brandon and Jeffrey Bates, Dennis Wilderson, TJ and Damien Sexton.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2025, 5 – 7 p.m. at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Chapel.  Funeral service will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Fitch-Hillis Funeral Chapel with Brother Billy Orr officiating. Interment will follow funeral service at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Poplar Bluff.  Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home is assisting with all arrangements.

Condolences may be made online at www.fitchhillisfh.com or on the Fitch-Hillis Facebook page.

The family would like to invite everyone to a potluck dinner following the interment at Living Word Baptist Church at 456 Township Line Road, Poplar Bluff.