Nan Bates

Nan Bates passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2019 in Colorado Springs, CO. She was 92 years old. Nan was born to John Richard Allison and Mintie Ewing Allen Allison on September 9, 1926 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nan received both her BA and Master’s degrees from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. She taught in the DeKalb County School System at both Dresden Elementary and Kingsley Elementary prior to retiring. Nan and her husband, Marvin, lived in Birmingham, Alabama; Dunwoody, Georgia; Braselton, Georgia; Dacula, Georgia, and Lawrenceville, Georgia. Nan moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado 1 1/2 years ago to Assisted Living and then on to Memory Care. Nan had been a member of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama; Perimeter Church in Duluth, Georgia; Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church in Chestnut Mountain, Georgia; and, finally, Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After retiring, Nan volunteered her time with the Perimeter Church library, Meals on Wheels, the Braselton library, student mentoring, working at voter precincts, etc. Nan loved singing and had a beautiful voice. She loved her family beyond measure and they her. Nan never met a stranger and loved people and traveling with Marvin. Even into her 80’s, Nan had to have technology! She had a Facebook page, cellphone, Kindle, laptop, desktop, iPad, etc.

Nan was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mintie Ewing Allison; her husband of over 60 years, Marvin James Bates, Jr., her brothers, Richard (Margaret) Allison; Harvey Allison; and James (Mary) Allison. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Allison Bates Watley (Bill) of Auburn, Georgia; and her son, Marvin (Mark) James Bates, III (Tricia) of Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Joshua Waldrop of Auburn, GA; Benjamin Watley (Kirsten) of San Francisco, California; Allison Bates Mazzetti (Daniel) of New York City, New York; Ashley Bates Townes (Sam) of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Anna Katherine Bates of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and great granddaughter, Sophie Waldrop of Auburn, GA. She is survived by two sister-in-laws (Faye Reeves and Joyce Allison); a brother-in-law (Sam Benton) and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Mission to the World P.O. Box 744165 Atlanta, GA 30374 Please include a note with your gift saying: In memory of Nan Bates.

Funeral service will be Friday, July 19, 2019 at 2 PM at Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel. Mr. Rusty Pugh will officiate. Interment will follow at Hamilton Mill Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1-2 PM at the funeral home.  

Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel 770-945-6924 Share memories of Nan at hamiltonmillchapel.com