Judy Bates

Graveside services for Judith Ann Bates, 68, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, 2015, at Jolliff Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Judy died at 4:12 p.m., Thursday, March 19, 2015, at Ozarks Medical Center.

She was born December 20, 1946, at West Plains, Missouri, to Walter D. Cowens and Mabel Eliza Towe Cowens. Judy loved everything about life and enjoyed taking walks, embroidering and writing letters.

She is survived by five children, Bobby Bates, Kevin Bates, Kimberly Stone, Rhonda Erber and Phillip Bates; several grandchildren; two sisters, Shirley Tyler, husband, John and Amy Lou Dickinson; and many nieces and nephews.

Her parents, one daughter, Melinda and ten brothers, precede her in death.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Monday at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.