Obituary-Elizabeth Bates

TAMA-Elizabeth Ann Bates, 77, of Tama, passed away Thursday, May 17, 2012 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha.  Funeral Services were held Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church Worship Center in Toledo with Pastor Brian Oliver officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo.  Visitation was held on Monday, May 21 from 5-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama. Elizabeth was born on June 18, 1934, in Trenton, MO, the daughter of Herbert L. and Ruth (Morgan) Barnett. Elizabeth attended Trenton High School in Missouri, and then attended community college in Texas.  On November 12, 1950, she was united in marriage to L.J. Leonard.  They had four children together and were married for nineteen years.  Elizabeth was united in marriage to Jack Sheldon Bates on October 27, 1979 in Tama.  The lived together in Borger, TX until moving to Iowa in 1988.  She worked for the Department of Human Services from 1973-1979 prior to her marriage to Jack and then got her Realty License in Texas.  After moving back to Iowa she established Golden Key Realty in Garwin, IA.  Elizabeth also taught some Realty classes in Texas.  She was a member of Eastern Star, a former member of Garwin Women’s Business and Professional Club, and was a member of the Garwin American Legion Auxiliary since 1988.  Elizabeth loved the Lord and loved music, dancing, and traveling especially in Alaska.  She took flying lessons and skydived at the age of seventy-six.  Elizabeth enjoyed being a part of her communities and especially the time she spent with family and friends.   Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Jack Bates in 2010; a son, Terry Leonard; step-son, Jackie Aaron Bates; and siblings, Virginia O’Callaghan and Charles Marriott. Survivors include her daughters, Brenda Lukasko of Cedar Rapids, Nancy (Mike) Purk of Toledo, Sharon Leonard of Toledo, Carolyn Howell of Frederick, OK, and Catheryne Chandler of Lawton, OK; a daughter-in-law, Rhonda Leonard of Muscatine; sixteen grandchildren, Tammy Fuller, L.D. Leonard, Kristen Nelson, Eric Leonard, Daniel Leonard, Marshall Leonard, Shawn Leonard, Brice Lukasko, Brooke Baker, Michael Purk II, Maja Evans, David Campbell Jr., Jay Howell, Kyle Howell, Jeremy Bevel, and Dawnielle Moore; and twenty-one great-grandchildren.  Memorials may be directed to Mercy Hospice in Hiawatha.