- Date Of Birth: July 22, 1954
- Date Of Death: February 27, 2022
- State: California
Born July 22, 1954, Ray Bates, Sr. was the fifth of ten children to the late Johnnie B. Bates, Sr., and Mamie Bates. His was a life well-lived. To know him was to love and respect him. Mild[1]mannered, soft-spoken, kind, and compassionate are some of the superlatives that describe him. And he was not afraid to say, “I love you.” He was stern when it was called for, and super competitive too, whether playing cards, BBQ’ing, or debating issues close to his heart.
During his San Diego City Schools days, one of his favorite classes was woodshop. Blessed with crafty hands and a keen eye for detail, he could build anything.
A football player for the Morse High School Tigers, he graduated in 1973. Like Jesus, he was a carpenter too. Soon after graduation, he began working at Rackley’s Construction where his carpentry skills flourished, learning the trades of lathing and plastering. The Hall of Justice in Downtown San Diego and many other prominent city buildings has his imprint all over them. His job was also his hobby.
While he loved woodworking and carpentry, his heart’s passion was cooking—especially grilling on his legendary smoker! Family and friends would travel from all over to experience the taste of Ray’s delicious, tender, mouthwatering BBQ! It was fit to be sold in exquisite restaurants.
He was a multifaceted man. In 1975, he and his longtime friend, Herbert King, and others started the Good Times Van Club. He loved helping his brother members with their CB radios, electronics, and customizing their vans. He was about the business! Everything had to be on-point. And it was! Known as P.I. (private investigator), Ray inspected everyone’s vans, making sure they were ready to rock-n-roll and caravan throughout America’s Finest City.
In 1992, Ray met Vanessa Dillard, the love of his life. On July 22, 2000, she became his bride. Their blended family included four children: Ray Bates Jr, Tanya Maxwell, Kellen Picou, and Lee Smith Jr. Ray was a caring, loving father who had a strong faith in God and his family.
On July 31, 2000, he began working as a carpenter for the City of San Diego. He enjoyed the job. Life was wonderful. He loved doing things that made him happy including dressing in his G.Q. style attire. He was about that swagger! Matching suits, shirts, and shoes!
Like David in the Bible, Ray was a man after God’s own heart.
Ray is survived by his wife, Vanessa Bates; 3 children, Ray Bates Jr., Tanya Maxwell (Ronnie), and Kellen Picou; 4 grandchildren, Angelo Bates, Tiera Purter, Mekhi Purter, and Alyssa Bates; 3 brothers, Jesse (Dona) Bates of Henderson, Nevada, Freddy (Linda) Bates, and Lawrence Bates; 3 sisters, Betty Bates, Gloria Bates, and Brenda Bates-Haynes (Brett); mother-in-law, Ms. Eva Dillard; sisters-in-law, Sebrena Harris, and Donna Kilbourne-Bates; a host of uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, dear friends—and his beloved dog, Jasper, whom he loved very much. He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings, Cathy Jones, Johnnie Bates Jr., Otis Darnell Bates; son, Lee Smith, Jr.; and sister-in-law, Varetta Dillard Chambers Willoughby.
