Ronald Elton Bates

Ronald Elton "Rabbit" Bates, 60, of Benton, TN went home to be with his most Heavenly Gracious Father, Sunday, January 11, 2015. He was a member of Zion Baptist Church and born November 19, 1954. "Rabbit" spent his childhood under the hood of a car with his granddad and his early adult life in the military. He took time abroad and finally made his way back to Tennessee and the love of his life. There he found peace. He was preceded in death by his parents E.L. Bates and Jean Smith; grandparents, Ira and Velma Bates; uncles, Walter Bates and Birch Bates He is survived by his best friend, soul mate and beloved wife of many years, Charlene Bates; daughters, Jennifer (Scott) Stewart, Chandra (Adam) Hughes all of Benton, TN; son, Ronald Christopher Bates (fiancé Jessica) of Madisonville, TN; grandchildren, Chelsea and Jordan Myers, Rachel Johnson, Hunter Stewart, Xavier Bates and Matthew Drainer. Funeral services will be held at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 15, 2015 at Higgins Funeral Home with the Reverend Lee Ingram and Reverend Mike Hazlewood officiating. Interment will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 16, 2015 in Benton Memorial Gardens. A white dove release ceremony will conclude the service. The family will receive friends from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2015 in the chapel of Higgins Funeral Home. Pallbearers are, Darrell Bates, Jeff Bates, Paul Bates, Danny Wilcox, Tommy Swann and Johnny Paul Seay. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Bates family guestbook at www.higginsfuneral.com.