Bettylou Bates

Betty was born on February 3, 1937 in Smithville Flats, the daughter of Everett and Myrtle (Bergman) Furman. She began her education at Brisben School and graduated from Greene Central School in 1955. After graduation, she began working at the City National Bank in Binghamton. In 1961, she transferred to NBT in Norwich, where she worked until 1963. Betty’s fondness for numbers led her to be the auction clerk at Lazy S Livestock Market in Norwich for 43 years (1970-2013), as well as at Ted Stith’s Auction Service in Taylor for several years.

During her younger years, Betty enjoyed square dancing which is where she met the love of her life, Dennis Bates, at the Norwich Grange Hall in November 1959. They continued to spend time together and later got married in 1961 at the Brisben Baptist Church. They welcomed their first child, Daniel, in March 1962. After welcoming their daughter, Judy, in July 1963, Betty chose to become a full-time loving & devoted mother and worked side by side her husband to run their family farm known as “Dandy J Farm.”

In addition to the family farm, Betty helped to establish the Dilley Hill Ridge Runners 4-H club and was a 4-H leader for several years. The Plymouth Historical Society was important to her. She was an officer and worked hard to help maintain the Plymouth Depot for many years. Betty also thoroughly enjoyed creating beautiful crafts including painting ceramics, plastic canvas pieces, and crocheting & knitting. Her ceramics were some of her most treasured items which she enjoyed giving to her family to display in their homes for each holiday.

As a survivor of colon cancer since 1986, she was proud and thankful to have had an extra 38 years with her beloved family and friends. She was grateful to be able to enjoy many special moments with her children, grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren who were the light of her life. Betty enjoyed trips to the Adirondacks every fall, Sunday dinners, and spending time visiting with family and friends. Her kind and nurturing qualities extended beyond her immediate family to numerous family members and friends. The phrase “give the shirt off your back” described Betty to a “T.” She was always there for anyone who needed advice or a shoulder to lean on. Betty’s kindness and giving nature created a legacy that will live on forever.

Betty is survived by her children, Daniel (Kelly) Bates, of Norwich, and Judy (Joe) Dushko, of Sherburne; her grandchildren, Carrie Hitt, of Earlville, Lindsey (Derrick) Symonds, of Earlville, Kyle Bates (Gabby Megale), of Greene, and Tyler Bates of Norwich; her great-grandchildren, Michael & Nicholas Hitt, of Earlville, and Kendall Symonds, of Earlville; her sister, Bernice (Carlton) Rockwell, of Greene; and her sisters-in-law, Linda Furman of Opelika, AL and Darlene Furman, of Endicott. She is also survived by several cousins, nieces, nephews and countless friends including Nancy Gridley, Yvonne Steward, and Jeannie Johnson.

Betty was predeceased by her husband Dennis Bates, parents Everett Furman & Myrtle (Bergman) Furman, her brothers, Frank Furman, LaVerne Furman and Phillip Furman, her sisters, Belle (David) Sprague, and Beatrice Brown, and two great-grandchildren, twins Dawson & Landon Symonds.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 12th at 12:00pm, followed by a burial in the Willcox Cemetery. Friends may call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home in Norwich, NY on Monday, November 11th from 6:00pm-8:00pm or Tuesday, November 12th from 11:00am-12:00pm prior to the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Betty’s memory may be made to Guiding Eyes for the Blind at guidingeyes.org or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org