Junia Mae Franklin Bates of Marietta, Oklahoma, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, November 18, 2002, at the age of seventy-four, at Mercy Memorial Hospital in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Mrs. Bates was born July 27, 1928, to R.B. and Bessie McLemore Franklin. She was born and raised in Addington, Oklahoma. She was a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include: her husband, Dennis, of the home; one daughter - Delores Dody Altom of Duncan, OK; one son - David Bates of Marlow, OK; six grandchildren - Larry Ethridge, Carrie Caldwell, Terry McConnell, Jody Mitchell, Tiffany and Elisha Bates; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Diana Hammond, and one grandson, Jimmy Ray Mitchell.

Funeral services for Mrs. Bates were held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, November 20, 2002, at the Addington Baptist Church with Manuel Macks officiating. Burial was in the Addington Cemetery under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Comanche.

Pallbearers were: Larry Ethridge, Terry McConnell, Jody Mitchell, Pat Webb, Blackie Webb, and Jimmy Evans.