William "Mike" Michael Bates

In Loving Memory of William Michael “Mike” Bates

July 18, 1954 – October 23, 2025

William Michael “Mike” Bates, of Lindale, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the age of seventy-one. Born in Rome, Georgia, on July 18, 1954, to William Erskin Bates and Shirley Ann Henderson Bates, Mike’s life was a living testament to the quiet strength of family, faith, and craftsmanship.

Mike learned early on the value of hard work and pride in one’s labor. He attended East Rome School and later joined his father in the family business, W. E. Bates and Son, where he worked side by side with him for twenty years as a skilled carpenter. Together they helped built more than homes, they built a legacy. Every board, every nail, every project bore the mark of Mike’s meticulous hands and the heart of a man who understood that work, when done with care, is a form of love. His precision and artistry in carpentry made him well-respected in the community and deeply admired by those who had the privilege of learning from or working alongside him.

On August 25, 1973, Mike married the love of his life, Karen West Bates. Theirs was a steadfast love, enduring more than five decades of joys, challenges, laughter, and shared dreams. Together, they built a family and a home filled with warmth, humor, and unconditional devotion.

Mike took great pride in his children: Brad Bates (Angela), Joey Bates, and Kelsey Harrell (Nick), and in his daughter-in-law, Courtney Bates. His legacy continues through his beloved grandchildren: Logan Bates (Amie), Carson Bates (Brittney), Briana Little (Corey), Corey Bates, Jr., Chelsee Hughes, Kinnleigh Harrell, Kaylen Harrell, and Maggie Bates, as well as his great-grandchildren, Cullen Little, Cambri Little, Alanna Hughes, Ariah Hughes, Waylon Bates, and Addie Bates. He also leaves behind his brother, Steve Bates; niece, Ashlyn Bates; and nephew, Taylor Bates.

He is preceded in death by his cherished son, Corey Scott Bates, and his sisters, Christine Bates and Donna Jo Bates.

Mike was a man whose passions reflected both his playful spirit and deep sincerity. A devoted Mopar enthusiast, he delighted in collecting and restoring Mopar parts. Each piece was a story, each car a symbol of perseverance and pride. His love of music filled his home and his heart, and his sense of humor could light up a room, often drawing laughter from those who needed it most. He had a knack for making people feel seen and cared for, whether through a well-timed joke or a quiet act of kindness.

Of all the things he loved, nothing compared to his love for his family and perhaps his loyal dachshund, Ed, who rarely left his side. His greatest joy came not from accolades or possessions, but from the simple moments spent surrounded by those he loved most.

Those who knew Mike will remember him as a man of integrity, gentle strength, and unwavering devotion. He was a craftsman not only of wood, but of laughter, love, and legacy.

Good Shepherd Funeral Home is honored to have been entrusted with the arrangements.

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