Julia "Judy" Ann Franklin Bates

Julia Ann Franklin "Judy" Bates was born February 17, 1934 at home two miles west of Addington, Oklahoma to Raymond L. Franklin and Ruth Mae (Watkins) Franklin. She passed from this life Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at her home in Waurika at the age of 90. Raymond was a dragline operator working on pipelines and the family moved following the work. Many times, living in company camps with other families. Work was in West Texas, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and Maine. Judy graduated from Addington High School in 1951. She and Billy Joe Bates were married and had two sons, Mike and Dale. Judy worked all her life. She was a telephone operator in Waurika and then in Wichita Falls. She worked in Irving, Texas for a startup company in the electronics business. She also worked for Arkla Gas, Bates Manufacturing in Addington and the Housing Authority in Waurika as director. Upon retiring from Housing she worked as a dispatcher for the Jefferson County Sheriff and then as a clerk for the City of Waurika. She was a stickler for details in accounting. One cent unaccounted for meant you didn't close the books for that day until it was found and put in the proper place. She loved sports and supported the local teams (and her children and grandchildren). In her last few years, her tv was nearly always turned to the tennis channel. She played piano at Addington Baptist Church for several years and then at Irving Baptist Church for the last four years. She was a friend to many. She was preceded in death by her parents, her older brother Charles Raymond, and younger brother Lyle Lee. She is survived by two sons - Mike Bates and wife Peggy of Irving, Oklahoma and Dale Bates and wife Jill of Waurika, Oklahoma. Grandchildren - Kristi Bates Hall, Ashley Zurel, Megan Hall, Sean Hall, Amber Hall, and Conrad Fontaine and great grandson Joc Edwards.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 1:00PM at Addington Baptist Church with Mike Bates officiating. Services are under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home in Waurika.