Mr. Neal Owen Bates

Neal Owen Bates, age 67 of Terry, MS, passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2015, at St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson, MS. He was born July 29, 1947, to Jesse Eugene and Elizabeth Menke Bates in El Dorado, AR. Preceding him in death are his parents; brother Dale Bates and sisters Barbara McGuff, Betty Jean Bates, and Marilyn Foord. Survivors include his loving wife of 45 years, Cynthia of Terry, MS, children Christy Barger (Anthony) of Ridgeland, MS, and Nancy Venarske (Daniel) of Ridgeland, MS; brothers Jimmy (Kathleen), Herb, and Bobby (Connie), brother-in-law Rickey Foord, sisters-in-law Zannie Bates and Judy (Jim) Packer; and grandchildren Ethan, Lauren, and Seth Barger, Nate, Eli, and Elizabeth Venarske, and Tiffany Burks, all of Ridgeland, MS. Neal obtained a BS in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana Tech in Ruston, LA, where he also met his wife Cynthia. They married June 7, 1969. In 1974, Neal took a job with Brown & Root and moved his wife and two girls, Christy and Nancy, to Houston, where he and Cynthia lived and worked for 40 years. In 2013, he retired from Jacob's Engineering in Houston as a Senior Electrical Engineer. After Cynthia retired from the Chronicle a few months later, they moved to the country in Terry, MS, to be close to the children and grandchildren. Neal was a family man and used his vacation time to help his girls care for their young children when his sons-in-laws were away for work. Neal was faithful to church, serving on the Board of Irvington Pentecostal Church and volunteering countless Saturdays over a ten-year span to build his church's sanctuary after a fire devastated part of the church. He took delight in traveling with family and friends worldwide. He was faithful and loving, mischievous and funny, joyful and caring. In 2005, he fought a battle with stage-four colon cancer and won. He spent the next nine years working and enjoying life to fullest. In October 2014, Neal began another battle with cancer, but this time it was stage-four pancreatic cancer. Never being a quitter, he fought hard for his life until January 13th. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday at First Pentecostal Church of Jackson. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 17, 2015, at First Pentecostal Church with Rev. T.L. Craft and Rev. Greg Frazier officiating. Burial will follow at Springridge United Methodist Church Cemetery under the direction of Chancellor's Funeral Home. In memory of Neal, donations may be made to First Pentecostal Church of Jackson, MS at 5000 I-55 S, Jackson, MS 39272, 601-373-9000.