GEORGE E. BATES

HOULTON and LINNEUS – George E. Bates, 84, went to be with the Lord he loved and served for many years Nov. 14, 2008. George was born May 20, 1924, son of J. Gordon and Adelaide (Webster) Bates, at their home in Linneus, where he resided. He married Norma (Cogswell), June 21, 1946. George was a potato and dairy farmer, meat cutter, burial vault distributor for Aroostook County and New Brunswick, and during retirement, enjoyed making deliveries part time for Konica Photo Service. George was a member of Houlton Wesleyan Church and Gideon’s International. He was admired for his steadfast love of the Lord and willingness to help anyone in need. He enjoyed greeting his church family each Sunday with a firm handshake and a warm smile. George will be greatly missed by his wife of 62 years, Norma; his children, Kenneth and wife, Maureen, of Killeen, Texas, Richard and wife, Flossie, of Queensbury, N.Y., Cheryl and husband, Dale Nason, of Fort Fairfield, David and wife, Lisa, of Houlton and Kimberly and husband, Darren Hawkes, of Woodstock, New Brunswick; his grandchildren, Ben and wife, Pam, Heidi and Sarah Nason, Stacey Bates, Paige and husband, Joe Kalbaugh, Bryan Bates, Samantha and Brandon Hawkes; and great-grandchildren, Barrett, Shane, Brytney, Hunter, Rylan, Alyssa and Zackary. He is also survived by his sisters, Madeline and husband, Preston Adams and Leta Adams; his brother, Donald; his brothers-in-law, Donald Vachon and William Cogswell; sisters-in-law, Geraldine Dunn and Lavina and husband, Eugene Byron; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; his sisters, Delisha Kenney, Maxine Bither and Glenice Vachon; and his brother, Gordon. He will be missed by the staff at Madigan Estates, where he had been loved and cared for in his final days. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Sunday at Houlton Wesleyan Church. Family and friends may call 1 p.m. until time of service at the church. Interment will be after at Evergreen Cemetery, Houlton. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Houlton Wesleyan Church, Gideon’s International or a charity of one’s choice, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730.