Harry William Bates 77 of Harrison passed away Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at his home. Harry was born December 17, 1939 in Atlanta, Michigan the son of Harold Henry and Lena Marie (Jensen) Bates. Mr. Bates honorably served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. On February 1, 1975 in Cadillac, Michigan, Mr. Bates was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Porteous.
Mr. Bates had resided in Harrison since 2016, coming from Tustin, Michigan and formerly of Cadillac. Harry enjoyed vegetable gardening, hunting, fishing, wood working, tinkering, playing solitaire, euchre and cribbage.
Surviving Mr. Bates is his wife of forty two years, Mrs. Barbara Jean Bates of Harrison, two daughters; Cathy Hall and husband Dave of Tekonsha, Michigan and Anna Bates of Harrison, two sons; William “Bill” Bates and wife Vicki of Muskegon, Michigan and Harold Bates and Shannon Baker of White Cloud, Michigan, one daughter in law, Christina Bates of Maryville, Tennessee, seventeen grandchildren; Tiffany, Stephanie, Billy, Donald “DJ”, David “MJ”, Katelyn, Ryan, Alyshia, Alexzandria, Ciearah, Keegan, Liberty, Ashland, Nick, Hailey, Kayla and Kaitlyn, seven great-grandchildren with two more joining the family in the near future, three sisters; Martha Sharp of Hinesville, Georgia, Sally Peterson of Tustin and Edna Rosenberg and husband Dave also of Tustin, three brothers; Oscar Bates of Sand Lake, Michigan, John Bates and wife Linda of Grant, Michigan and Roy Bates of Le Roy, Michigan, many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. Mr. Bates was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Joseph Bates and three sisters; Emma, Faith and Irene.
Visitation for Mr. Bates will be held Monday, March 6, 2017 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. from Stocking Funeral Home, Harrison. Memorial gifts in memory of Harry may be considered to the Bates Family, in care of: Anna or Harold Bates. To share an online memory or condolence with Harry’s family, please visit: www.stockingfuneralhome.com. Arrangements for Mr. Bates are entrusted with Stocking Funeral Home, Harrison (989) 539-7810.

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