I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. I was lucky to have flown with Evan just after the Northwest-Delta merger once. It was so much fun, and it was all because of Evan and his kind and caring personality. And did we laugh!!!! He could tell a story like no one else. Every time I ran into him after that once trip, I’d be greeted with a big smile and hug and the laughter would start all over again—he made you feel like family! He left that kind of an imprint on everyone—he never forgot you and never knew a stranger. He’s very surely missed. ‘Til we meet again friend….

... never really knew EVAN outside of work but he always was a kind and friendly person... I know he touched many lives because of his caring nature - and i just wanted to say for all who was touched by his presence his memory will be forever !!! God has him on his team now and he will be watching over us. He will be missed.......a friend, Jimmy

Please know  you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. I have been a flight Attendant with Evan for the past 28 years. I have so many wonderful memories and laughs that I will cherish forever.  Evan attracted an audience  anytime he told a story. Everyone loved him. Hugs to you all. 🙏🏼💕💕

I am sorry to hear about Evan's passing.  I hadn't flown with him in at least ten years.  He was quite an unforgettable character. I share one of his stories frequently about his flight as a  passenger on Lufthansa. The way he told it was priceless. 
Unbeknownst to me,  we also worked at Six Flags at the same time in 1977. I have uploaded a photo of him some may enjoy, that was in the yearbook we had there. 
Thoughts and prayers to the family. RIP Evan.......
Randy Trotter

MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY. PLEASE KNOW EVAN'S ABSENCE SHALL LEAVE AN INDELIBLE VOID IN EACH OF OUR LIVES AND HEARTS. EVAN HAD SUCH AN IMPACT ON SO MANY LIVES, HIS LAUGHTER AND CARING SPIRIT WILL BE REMEMBERED ALWAYS. WE WERE THE BEST OF FRIENDS FOR OVER 41 YEARS. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN MY PRECIOUS FRIEND, FLY HIGH AND KNOW YOU WERE SO VERY LOVED...

I am so sorry for your loss. I throughly enjoyed working with Evan whenever I had the chance. 
My thoughts are with you all.

Ashley Templeton
Delta coworker

I had the pleasure of working with Evan on several trips- one very recently.  Every time I saw his name on the flight attendant list, I knew it would be a very memorable three days.  He made us all laugh and the passengers loved him so much- we all did. He had wonderful stories to share about his life, his career journey, and Sylacauga. He will truly be missed at Delta Air Lines.  I was so very saddened by the news of his passing.  I will never forget Evan or how he made me just crack up with his sense of humor.   To all of his family, friends, and our colleagues, I send my deepest sympathies.  
Fly the highest Evan!  And thank you for being my friend!!

I worked one three day trip with Evan as a Flight Attendant and it was one of the best trips I had ever had.  He made me laugh for 3 days and it was never a dull moment. I strive to be as good as Evan was on the aircraft, by making everyone feel welcomed and happy while they are with us.  I am so sorry for your loss of an incredible person who did light up the whole plane when he was on it.

So sad to hear of his passing.  He was such a nice man and I had the pleasure of working with him at Delta on several trips.  He had a wonderful sense of humor and a very caring spirit!  He will be missed by so many flight attendants at Delta Air Lines!

Hey, I’m Steven Mr. Bates yard guy. Sir you will be truly missed. Bates was one of my first customers while starting out my lawn service. He was fair and firm! 
He would stand on that back patio looking and shaking his head with his thumb up at the same time. He was always pleased when we were done. 
In September of last year, he had called me and said, “Steve come by and bring the weed eat, lawn mower, blower and chain saw”! I said yes sir; I will be there shortly!
I had gotten there an he started saying “I wanna see this stuff back beautiful again, I’ll like for you to trim it up a make it like someone lives here.” 
I said yes sir. we can do that.  We started and finished trimming the front and side bushes,
I asked him to come out and check it before we start cutting the grass. 
He comes out with his arms folded and he said “oooohhh noooo! I mean trim it all the way down.” I said ok, are you sure? He said YES! 
I start back trimming an he taps my shoulder, and whisper “ cut it to the ground”. I turn the trimmer off. I said say that again, he said “CUT IT DOWN; with us arms folded.
 I said ok let’s do it. 
I had to share that story cause he was a great guy and had a great spirit and I thought it was quite funny as he changed his mind an wanted to really see the progress when it was all over! My condolences to the friends a family of Mr. Bates you will be truly missed!

Dear Mrs. Bates and Greg and extended family.

I am deeply heartbroken over Terry’s passing and cannot begin to express how troubled I was to hear this tragic loss. He wasn’t just my best friend from the third grade when we met all the way through 12 grade, I learned to love him like a brother during all those years. His kindness, talents, humor, and generous spirit touched everyone who knew him, and I feel so blessed to have shared so many wonderful memories with him.

Please know that I am grieving alongside you, and my heart goes out to your family during this incredibly difficult time. After graduation in 1976, as it is with a lot of friends during that era, we lost contact with each other. I am so glad that just a few years ago I took that time to get in touch with him while I was visiting my family in Alabama, and he told me where he lived and I had about an hour and 15 minute visit with him. I will cherish that visit and also seeing you, Mrs. Bates, as you came over to the house that day as well.

If there is anything I can do to support you, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I will always treasure Terry’s memory and the impact he had on my life for so many years!

With deepest sympathy,
John Lightsey

OBITUARY

Evan "Terry" Vaughn Bates

June 28, 1958 – January 24, 2025

Curtis and Son Funeral Home

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