- Date Of Birth: September 23, 1935
- Date Of Death: October 11, 2012
- State: Illinois
Opal M. Bates, 77, of Galesburg, died at 5:01 p.m. Thursday, October 11, 2012 at Galesburg Cottage Hospital.Opal was born September 23, 1935 in Hillsdale, WY the daughter of Athes and Lulu (Clark) Palmer. She married Harold C. Bates on July 17, 1954 in Carpenter, WY.
Harold preceded her in death on June 15, 2005. Opal is survived by a son, Steve (and Patsy) Bates of Galesburg; two daughters, Marilyn (and Doug) Raver of Decatur and Vicky (and the late Dale) Woods of Galesburg; ten grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She is also survived by three brothers, Larry (and Carol) Palmer of Lakeside, CO, George (and Fern) Palmer of Davenport, IA, and Richard Palmer of Ben Salem, Pennsylvania; six sisters, Eula (and Bud) Gibbs of Davenport, IA, Dorothy (and Noel) Taylor of Garden City, MO, Margie Baldwin of Hot Springs, WY, Claudia (and Doug) Powell of Pines Bluff, WY, Debra (and Cecil) McCaughan of Tyler, TX, and Lori Thiel of Pines Bluff, WY; a sister in law, Dorothy Bateman of Blue Grass, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews who she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a brother, Jerry Palmer.Opal was the oldest of 11 children. She was a caregiver for children almost her entire life. Opal’s life was dedicated to her family. She was a wonderful homemaker, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She was “Mommy Opal” to many, and will be missed by all who knew her. During her lifetime she held many position in the healthcare field, and was a member of the Galesburg Chapter Order of the Eastern Star.
