Arthur Newton Bates

Arthur Newton Bates of Florence, AL was born February 13, 1947 in Cloverdale, AL, the son of the late Wilburn Newton and Hazel B. Walker Bates.

Mr. Bates was a retired heavy equipment operator, was of the Baptist faith and was a member of Alabama Bee Keepers Association. He raised honey bees and was known as "Arthur's Honey".
Mr. Bates was a United States Army veteran.

Mr. Bates departed this life Saturday, February 6, 2016 at E.C.M. Hospital in Florence, Alabama at the age of 68 Years, 11 Months, 24 Days.

He is survived by a son, Arthur Newton Bates, Jr. of Muscle Shoals, AL; daughters, Valerie Medlock of Sheffield, AL, Sandra Hernandez of Cloverdale, AL; grandchildren, Megan McGuire, David Hernandez; brothers, Charlie Bates, Clifford Bates and Joey Bates all of Cloverdale, AL, Jerry Bates and Jimmy Bates both of Florence, AL and Larry Bates of Joppa, AL; sisters, Betty Wallace of Cloverdale, AL, Nancy Price of Florence, AL; nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Bates was preceded in death by a grandson, William McGuire.

Services will be Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 1:00 PM at Shackelford Funeral Directors chapel, Collinwood, Tennessee, with Robert Marks officiating. Burial with military rites will follow in the Antioch Cemetery, Florence, Alabama with Shackelford Funeral Directors, Wayne County, directing. His brothers will serve as pallbearers and Adam and Billy Bates will be honorary pallbearers.

Visitation will be Monday, February 8, 2016 from 6 to 8 pm and Tuesday, February 9, 2016 from 12 noon to service time at the funeral home.