Dorothy Bates

Dorothy Dot Kelley Bates passed away peacefully in her sleep, Friday, June 14, 2013 in Boerne, Texas.

She was born 11171924 in Port Neches, Texas, to Rev. Robert Lee Herring and Carrie Carr Herring. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School, Pt. Arthur, Texas in 1942. While working in the payroll dept. at Consolidated Shipyard in Orange, Texas, she met Leon Ferrell who was a welder and played in the Consolidated band. They were married February 26, 1943, in Port Acres, Texas. Her father performed the ceremony. Leon went into the Air Force in 1943. He was shot down over Hamburg, Germany on January 17, 1945. They had one son, Leon Lonnie Ferrell, Jr., who was born October 12, 1944, and passed away November 15, 2005.

Dot moved to Rankin, Texas with her young son and parents in 1945, where her father was Pastor of First Baptist Church of Rankin. While in Rankin she was deputy county clerk, secretary at the bank, and bookkeeper at the hospital. While in Rankin Dot was the church pianist.

Dot was also an Eastern Star member for 40 years, she was Beta Sigma Phi and was crowned Valentine Queen in 1961 in McCamey, Texas.

Dot moved to Odessa, Texas in 1962. She worked for Key, Rhodes Jenkins until becoming secretary at National Bank of Odessa in 1963, where she worked for 21 years before retiring as Assistant V.P.

In 1963 she married Coach Euwell D. Kelley of Monahans, Texas. He died in November 1994 after 32 years of marriage.

In January 2002 she married Dennis Mooch Bates of Odessa. Mooch passed away in the Spring of 2004.

Dorothy is survived by her brother, Brig. Gen. Robert L. Herring, his wife Mary Herring, her niece Cindy Bates Muir, greatniece Lauren Bates, Granddaughter Stephanie Brown and her husband Robert Brown, grandson Jason Ferrell and two greatgrandchildren, Chaz Andrew Ferrell and Holden Chay Brown.

She was loved by many and will be missed.

Funeral is Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 10:00 AM in the Chapel of Sunset Funeral Home, Odessa Texas. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

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