William Clinton Bates Jr., of Shreveport, Louisiana went home to be with the Lord on Friday, October 15, 2021 at the age of 70. Clint, as he was affectionally known, was born December 3, 1950 in Fayetteville, Tennessee to Mary Hannah Harris Bates and William Clinton Bates Sr.. He was proudly part of the Class of 1970 at Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. He earned a certificate program in drafting from Delta School of Business before achieving an Associates Degree in drafting from Southern Technical College.
Clint worked as a draftsman for 45 years in architectural drafting, his specialty, and civil drafting. He worked for several different architectural firms in the Shreveport-Bossier Area. He retired from Coyle Engineering in Bossier City on October of 2017. Clint also enjoyed teaching drafting at Southern Technical College for two years specializing in Autocad. He ran his classroom as a business environment, including a dress code for the students.
Clint had a love of God and sought every opportunity to share that love with others. At church, he served as a chaperone on the bus for the Bus Ministry, a member of the Puppet Ministry Team in the children's bible classes, an usher, and speaker before communion. He would deliver communion and prayers to those members who were homebound, in the hospital or nursing home as well.
He found a true calling to motorcycle ministry beginning with the Believers Chapter of The International Christian Motorcycle Association, where he served as a Road Captain, Vice President and President during his time with the ministry. He continued his ministry when he joined the The International Tribe of Judah Motorcycle Ministry, in which he also served as Chapter Secretary at the time of his passing.
Clint raised his son, Andrew as a single father for 13 years, until he married his wife, Bethany on January 7th 1995. He was a very active parent. When his son, Andrew joined Cub Scouts and later, Boy Scouts, he served as a Scout Master. Clint and Beth lived together as not only spouses, but best friends, who could sit and talk for hours at "Clint's Place", the Whataburger on Bert Kouns and Mansfield Road. Topics mainly centered around God, people and philosophies.
Clint's hobbies throughout his lifetime included racing horses in barrel races, which then graduated to his steel pony, his Harley Davidson Motorcycle, when he got older. His main hobby was drafting, which was also his occupation so he never felt like he was really working. He enjoyed quiet evenings at home, watching TV or Movies, reading, or doing research on the Internet. He was always researching "How to do" some project, which he was planning to undertake. When he was introduced to Facebook, he immediately saw it as another opportunity for Ministry. He was a fantastic writer of inspirational stories and devotionals. He would dictate the story into his phone and then would ask Beth to edit it for spelling and punctuation before posting onto Facebook.
Clint was a friend magnet. He attracted people with his quiet, unassuming nature and confidant manner. He loved God first, others second and himself last. He was a very loving person, husband, son, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. Once you became Clint's friend you had a friend for life. He will be missed forever.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Bethany Cecilia Fugler Bates; his mother, Mary Hannah Harris Bates; son, Chris Lueking (Irene); daughter, Renee Lueking (Chris Dunivan); grandchildren, Dylan Lueking,Gavin Lueking, Madison Gomez, Kiley Lueking, Sadie Dunivan, Gene Gray, Felicia Delgado and Levi Bell; five great grandchildren and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Clint was preceded in death by his son, Andrew Shawn Bates; father, William Clinton Bates Sr.; aunts, Elvie Ivy, Margie Juneau, Edith Heflin, Vernell McPherson, Bertha Van, Lorine Pierce, and Peggy Bartlett; and uncles, Jay Harris, Harvey Harris, Kenneth McPherson, Kenneth Bates, and Paul Bates.
A visitation for Clint will be held Saturday, October 23, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, 8801 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, Louisiana 71108, followed by a celebration of life at 2:00 PM. He will be laid to rest in Centuries Memorial Park. Officiating the service will be Ben Brewster, Pulpit Minister of Airline Drive Church of Christ of Bossier City. Also participating in the services will be TOJ Luke Roark as a speaker, Darren Shavers as a singer, and a recorded song by Clint Bates.
Serving as pallbearers are TOJ Luke Roark, TOJ Todd Hennigan , TOJ Gary Furhrmann, TOJ Jeff Munds, TOJ Wess Nugent, and TOJ Alton Hale. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Mike Maddox, James Hinton, TOJ Mike Henry , Nate Lindsay and Terry Watson.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Clint's memory may be made to Airline Drive Church of Christ of Bossier City; Bossier K.I.D.S. and Tribe of Judah Motorcycle Ministries.
