| J.D. Bates Friday, March 2, 2007 10:00 AM EST Age 70, of Ovid, died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007. Mr. Bates worked at Midland Ross Corp., of Owosso for over 20 years and made a life-long career of farming, building up a successful sheep farm, one of few in Mid-Michigan. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2510 N. M-52, Owosso, with Pastor Dave Woodby officiating. Burial will follow at Middlebury Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday evening 6 to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, 232 E. Oak St., Ovid. J.D. was born in Chesaning, April 19, 1936, the son of F.D. and Clara (Bowman) Bates. He graduated from Chesaning Union High School in 1954. On June 20, 1959, he married Lois Behrens in Saginaw. She survives him. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Germany. He enjoyed farming, hunting, outdoors, playing cards, Western movies, novels and watching the Discovery Channel. Also surviving are his children, Jeff (Eufemia) Bates of Tampa, Fla., Scott (Brenda) Bates of Ovid and Billie Rae (Keith) Newland of Atlanta, Ga.; grandchildren, Christian and Veronica Bates; sisters, Carol Lee, Emily, Elsie, Evelyn and Edna; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by: his parents; sisters, Beryl and Blanche; brothers, Dewey, Mike and Willard. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to Redeemer Lutheran Church. Home |