Graveside services for Richard Dean Bates, 71, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 28, 2022, at Huddleston Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Bates passed away at 9:43 a.m., Monday, January 24, 2022, at Ozarks Healthcare.

He was born July 4, 1950 at Thayer, Missouri, to Lyle and Elsie Morrison Bates.  Mr. Bates loved to coon hunt and just being outdoors.

He is survived by two children, Brandon Bates and wife, Jody, and Brian Bates and wife, Jessica; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three brothers, Boyd Bates, Floyd Bates and wife, Carol, and Danny Bates and wife, Judy; three sisters, Sally Sisco, Pat Hahn and husband, Gary, and Cathy Ridenhour and husband, Gary; several nieces and nephews; and lots of friends and family.

His parents, one son, Ricky Bates, one sister, Anita Wilcox, and three brothers, Mac Bates, Joe Bates, and Bobby Bates, preceded him in death.

Inurnment will be at Huddleston Cemetery.