Cathie H Bates

We are sad to announce that Cathie Irene (Hatch) Bates, recently of Easley, South Carolina passed away at home on Thursday, September 7th at the age of 77.

Born November 21st, 1945, to Douglas Phineas Hatch and Marion Lillian Schaffner in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Cathie was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother.

Cathie grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, but spent much of her adult life living all over the country as well as Germany. She moved with her husband in the army to Lawton, OK and Stuttgart, Germany. Afterwards returning to Michigan for a short time before moving to Fort Worth, Texas, as well as Menasha, Wisconsin, Lake Zurich, Illinois, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Okemos, Michigan, Lake St. Louis, Missouri, Fort Wayne, Indiana and finally living the last 12 years in Easley, South Carolina.

Cathie worked for many years as a hairdresser and was an avid reader never to be found far from her beloved Kindle. Cathie was also a talented crafter who loved to sew, quilt, work with silk embroidery, cross stitch, make ceramics and paint all kinds of things, including the many houses the family moved into. She spent many happy hours creating heirloom pieces for friends, family, children and grandchildren.

Cathie was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her husband, Thomas Winfred Bates, her son Kevin Wayne Bates (Margaret) and granddaughter Klairissa Rea; daughter Reagan Ann Davis (Jeffrey) and grandchildren Dylan James and Sydney Grace.

The family will be holding a celebration of life at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 30th at Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009 followed by a brief reception.

Donations can be made to The Humane Society of the United States or The V Foundation.