Gladys "Faye" Bates

Gladys “Faye” (Mitchell) Bates, 79, of Tilton passed away at home in the arms of her loving husband.  She heard the angels calling her home on March 19, 2020 after a sudden illness. 

She was born in Clinton, Tennessee on July 5, 1941. She graduated from Danville HS in 1959. She worked at Peterson Filling & Sears toy department. Later in life, she became an LPN and worked surgery at St Elizabeth then later at a Physician’s office before retiring.  She was a member of United Church of Tilton & more recently Central Christian Church.

She is survived by her husband Harlan “Gene” Bates; children Laura (Bates) Andracki, Jeffrey Bates and Rebecca (Michelle Shepherd) Bates; grandchildren Zachary Bates, Joshua Andracki, Caleb Andracki, Sara Andracki, Noah Bates & Eli Bates;  sister Don & Carolyn (Mitchell) Jones; brothers Hugh “Nick” & Barb Mitchell, Terry & Kim Mitchell as well as many cherished relatives & friends; finally, her beloved pug Itzy Bitzy Mitzie whose antics brought love & laughter.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Rufus & Hiley Weber, parents Hugh Mitchell & Gladys Hamer (Weber) & sister Wanda (Mitchell) Hamer

She was a cherished wife, loving mother & grandmother who was a fearsome protector of her family & friends. Faye married Gene on March 29, 1959 (61 years). They went everywhere together as a couple.  They had a rare deep love for each other; holding hands, hugging & kissing their entire lives. She loved tigers, was an avid reader & crossword puzzler.  Later in life she enjoyed word games on her Fire Tablet.  As an Illini basketball fan, she was intensely loyal to her favorite player Dee Brown. She was the kind of person who would carry on a lengthy conversation with a total stranger as if she had known them her entire life.  She was abundantly loved & will be missed.

There will be a private family service held at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville, Illinois, 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, Illinois 61834. In lieu of flowers please consider making a memorial donation in Gladys’ name to St Jude Children’s Hospital. 

Please join Gladys’ family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.  

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.