Doris Dixon Cooper Bates, 87, of Apison, died on Tuesday, July 12, 2005.
She was born in Middletown, Ohio, to Bertha Lindsey Dixon and Arthur L. Dixon. Mrs. Bates grew up in Chickamauga, GA, but spent most of her adult life in the Chattanooga area.
Mrs. Bates was a Sunday school teacher for 40 years, dividing her time with children, high school/college and senior adults.
During her retirement years she visited homebound neighbors to teach the weekly Sunday school lesson. Mrs. Bates was a volunteer at the Chambliss Home in earlier years.
After retiring from Erlanger hospital pharmacy, she enjoyed organ and art lessons. She participated in local art shows and sold several of her oil paintings. Her favorites were scenes at the Chickamauga Battlefield. Traveling and playing the organ were most enjoyable to her.
Mrs. Bates was a 50-year member of the O.E.S., Ooltewah Chapter 365, where she was a past Worthy Matron.
She was known to her family and friends as a "Prayer Warrior" and often was called upon to add one more name to her lengthy list.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Virginia R. Dixon; brother, George A. Dixon; and two husbands, Delmonte T. Cooper and Oran C. Bates.
She was a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church.
She is survived by her daughter, Gail Cooper (Ken) Stephens, Rocky Face, GA; stepdaughter, Mates C. Bates (Carl) Tallant, Ooltewah; sons, David (Peggy) Cooper, Chattanooga, Ronald Cooper, Ooltewah; nieces, Joyce Bohannon and Carolyn Gilliam, Roanoke Rapids, N.C.; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, whom she loved dearly.
Services will be Friday at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Truitt Cockrell, the Rev. Henry Preston and Dr. Clifton Cleaveland officiating. Interment will be in Plowman Cemetery with her grandsons serving as pallbearers.
Memorial contributions may be made to Martin-Boyd Christian Home, 6845 Standifer Gap Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
Condolences may be sent at heritagefh.com.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.