James Tom Bates

Services for James Tom “Donut” Bates, 79, of Tyler, will be held on Friday, August 22, 2014 at 10:00 AM at Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel with President William Alba officiating. Burial will follow at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Bates passed away Friday, August 15, 2014 in Tyler. Mr. Bates was born in Sherman on May 30, 1935 to the late Homer and Elsie Bates. Tom attended schools in Sherman and attended high school from 1949 to 1953, participating in football and baseball. Donut attended Paris Junior College on a football scholarship and graduated in 1956. He then attended Austin College and played football there for two years. Upon graduating, he was drafted in the U. S. Army. Tom spent one year at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas playing football there. In 1959 he was assigned to duty in Korea. Where there, he played division level football and was selected for the Far East All-Star Team. The All-Stars defeated the Marines and the Air Force All-Stars to claim the Far East Championship. Donut was discharged in June of 1960. He was selected to be the head football and track coach at Queen City. Tom spent five years there and his track teams won five district titles. He then move to Gainesville and was the defensive coordinator and head track coach. From Commerce he then moved to John Tyler High School and was the offensive line coach and head track coach. Tom moved across town to Robert E. Lee High School as offensive live and head baseball coach. In 1980 he took the job as Visiting Teacher (truant officer). Tom was elected President of the State Visiting Teacher Association. Donut stayed as a Visiting Teacher until his retirement in 2004. In retirement Tom enjoyed attending local sporting events and playing golf at the Cascades. In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his older sister, Bettie Jean Cottrell. He is survived by his brother, Jerry Ray Bates of Irving; nieces and nephews, Cathy Williams and husband John of Clearfield, Utah, Becky Elmer and husband Bob of Tyler, Denise Harris and husband Michael of Irving and Brad Bates of Irving; great-nieces and nephews, Kirk Redford and wife Brittany of South Ogden, Utah, Melissa Baetz and husband Chris of Billings, Montana, Adam Redford and wife Ashley of Forney, Katie Alba and husband William of Tyler and Andrea Williams of Clearfield, Utah and great-great-nieces and nephews that were the love of his life, Blake, Destiney, Mason, Lexie, Jared, Dakota, Camilla, Colton, Alexander and Jace. Pallbearers will be Adam Redford, Jack Neil, John Wills, Don Malone, Larry Wilson and Burley Lamb. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Bates, Kirk Redford, Chris Baetz, Bill Ray Dickie, Jerry Craig, Michael Harris and Roger Martin. Visitation is scheduled from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursday, August 21, 2014 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. If desired, memorials may be made to The Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd, Tyler 75701.

James Tom Bates

May 30, 1935 - August 15, 2014