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2020 11/29 – Maria Elena Bates

By News Nov 25, 2020 | 7:52 PM

Maria Elena Bates, 79, of Patoka passed away Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia. Maria was a dedicated employee at several factories, Country Boy, Fats in Sandoval, and was owner of Bates Shell in Patoka. She was a member, and baptized, at Patoka Christian Church and loved her church family. Maria loved going to watch all grandkids and great-grandkids sporting and school events, Tuesday pinochle with the ladies, bingo, and the St. Louis Cardinals. She loved to travel anywhere at any time. Maria’s greatest love was for her family of 52. She loved all of the family get togethers, which there were a lot of! She loved playing cards, games, and camping with her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.

Day Macz Funeral Home in Patoka is privileged to be assisting the family of Maria Bates with arrangements. A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, November 29, 2020 at Patoka Christian Church in Patoka with Ministers Seth and Micah Schnautz officiating. Maria’s family would like those that are unable to attend the celebration of life service to know it will be recorded by the funeral home and available to watch on Macz Funeral Home’s YouTube channel. A visitation time to offer condolences to the family will be held from 1:00 P.M. until the time of the service at the church on Sunday where those in attendance will be asked to wear a mask and the number of people in the church at one time will be limited. Memorial donations may be made in Maria’s honor to Patoka Fire/Ambulance Department and Patoka Christian Church. Online condolences and memories of Maria may be shared with the family by visiting www.maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.

Survivors that will remember Maria’s fighting spirit and warm smile include her beloved family, daughter, Paula Moore and husband Tim of Sandoval, son, Greg Sprehe of Salem, daughter, Tracey Garden and husband Scott of Salem, daughter, Gigi Baker and husband Barry of Centralia, and daughter, Mitzi Isaak and husband Marty of Patoka; grandchildren, Christi Dempsey, Angie (Wade) Hunter, Amber (Derek) Orrill, Kenny (Mary) Sprehe, Stacie (Brandon) Meyer, Christie (George) Vandeloo, Alexa Garden, Lance Baker, Brittany (Michael) Wright, Breanne (Michael) Kuhn, Tyson (Lindsey) Murray, and Whitney (Matt) Lowery; great-grandchildren, Trenton and Armoni Dempsey, Elena Maria and Alaric Hunter, Keldon and Benson Orrill, Owen, Arianna and Raina Sprehe, Samuel Meyer, Ava Vandeloo, Noah and Sophie Wright, baby Alden Kuhn (due in January), Emmie Jo and Jake Murray, Liam Osterman, Nic, Alaina, Mia and Lilliana Lowery; sister, Gerri Theiss of Leesburg, FL; brother, Dale Newcomb of Breese; many nieces, and nephews; and special friend, Linda Densmore.

She was born on November 22, 1941 the daughter of Elmer and Frances Newcomb in Ashley. She married Fritz Sprehe (deceased) and had 5 wonderful children. She married Larry “Bad Boy” Bates in 1980. Maria was preceded in death by both her parents, Elmer and Frances Newcomb; husband, Larry Bates; grandsons, Derek Moore, and Cameron Garden; brother-in-law, Norm Theiss; and sister-in-law, Sandy Newcomb.