Betty Jean Bates, 92, of Herculaneum died Jan. 10, 2023, at her home. Mrs. Bates was a retired production worker at the Sunline Candy factory in St. Louis. She was a member of the former Assumption Catholic Church in Herculaneum and a current member of Our Lady Catholic Church in Festus. Born April 9, 1930, in Festus, she was the daughter of the late Blanche (Luther) and William Simms. She was preceded in death by her husband: Nicholas Anthony Bates.
She is survived by a daughter: Joan (Randy) Hill of Festus; two sons: James “Jim” (the late Terry) Bates and William “Bill” (the late Jane) Bates, both of Herculaneum; seven grandchildren: Travis (Angie) Hill, Nathan (Amy) Hill, Amy (Bill) Lundberg, Shad (Nicole) DeBoor, Tyler (Amy) Bates, Joshua (Celina) Bates and Kyle (Cristina) Bates; 14 great-grandchildren: Jacob (Rebecca) Hill, Molly (fiance Clay Carroll) Hill, Macy (fiance Grant Hopkins) Hill, Gavin DeBoor, Garrett DeBoor, Hayden Bates, Hunter Bates, Hudson Bates, Brooke Bates, Brielle Bates, Harper Bates, Conner Bates, Eliza Lundberg, Sophia Lundberg and Noah Lundberg; a great-great-granddaughter Eden Hill; a brother-in-law: Joseph Bates of Imperial; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by a sister: Helen Simms; a brother: Leo (the late Joyce) Simms; an infant great-granddaughter: Claire Lynn DeBoor; and numerous siblings-in-law.
Visitation is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, at Vinyard Hillcrest Funeral Home, 9115 Commercial Blvd., in Pevely. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, at Our Lady Catholic Church in Festus. Burial is in the Assumption Catholic Cemetery in Herculaneum. Memorials may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.