Jay F. Bates
Jay F. Bates, 83, Bourbon, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, at home with his family by his side.
Jay was born April 27, 1933, in Plymouth, the son of Harry W. and Olive H. (Ecker) Bates. He was a lifelong resident of Bourbon, graduating from Bourbon High School in 1951. He continued his education at Purdue University, studying agriculture from 1951-1952. Jay was a veteran of the United States Army, serving from 1953-1955 as a shovel crane operator. He received his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., before transferring to Fountainbleu, France, just outside Paris, where he remained until his honorable discharge.
After returning home in 1955, he started a livestock hauling business that he operated until the mid 1970’s hauling livestock out of the Chicago Union Stockyards. Since 1960, he was an active farmer in the community raising grain crops and, for a time, Holstein replacement heifers. In 1980, he turned the feed lot into a tractor salvage business known world-wide and specializing in new, used, and rebuilt IH tractor parts. His daughters along with their spouses continue to own and operate Bates Corporation today as a third generation business.
Jay married Sue Ann Haenes of Bremen, eloping on Valentine’s Day 1969 to Watseka, Ill. He is survived by his wife, Sue Ann, identical twin daughters, Patricia Ann (Brian) Kitch and Teresa Lynn (Kenneth) Barnhart, and grandchildren, Trenton Samuel Barnhart, Brandon Jay Kitch, Travis Charles Barnhart, and Brooke Ann Kitch. Sister Barbara Ann (Donald) Faulkner and brother James Allen Bates, all of Bourbon, along with several nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Jay was a member of the Bourbon First United Methodist Church, Bourbon American Legion Post #424, Plymouth Masonic Kilwinning Lodge #149, Fort Wayne Scottish Rites, and Fort Wayne Mizpah Shriners. He was a charter member of the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association (NTPDA) and Northern Indiana International Harvester Collector’s Club Chapter #33. He was a 10 year Marshall County 4-H member.
He enjoyed traveling extensively with his family and noted that one of his greatest joys was exploring 48 of the 50 states all by car during summer vacations before his girls turned eighteen. He also enjoyed telling the story of driving his shovel crane while in the Army around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, twice, just because he could. Jay and Sue wintered in Haines City, FL, for 28 years.
The family will receive friends from 2:30-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2 at the Bourbon First United Methodist Church, 204 N. Washington Street, Bourbon, IN 46504. A Masonic service will be conducted at 7 p.m. in the church.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3 in the Church with Pastor Rob Seewald officiating.
Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Bourbon, Indiana, with graveside military services by the Bourbon American Legion.
Memorials may be directed to the Marshall County Community Foundation (marshallcountycf.org) to support the family’s charity of choice.
Deaton-Clemens Funeral Home is privileged to be entrusted in arranging the services of Jay F. Bates.