Kathleen Frances Bates

and Mildred (Sessums) Fallon. Her roots ran deep with her Catholic faith, Irish

heritage and love of Texas. The family soon moved to Irving TX where she would

spend her childhood in a growing family. Kathy attended Holy Trinity Catholic

School in Dallas the first few years of her education before transferring to St.

Luke’s Catholic School in Irving to complete her elementary studies. Her high

school education included a Catholic school in Illinois for one year and then

completed it at Irving High school at age 16. After high school she attended

college off and on while working after she married Thomas C. Bates in 1967. Due

to Tom’s career as a pilot, they moved a few times (Grand Prairie TX, Abilene TX,

Memphis TN, Clear Lake City TX) before finally settling in Humble TX. There she

was active at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church as a Lay Eucharist Minister,

member of the finance committee and other roles. She always felt blessed to be

able to assist on two church mission trips to Ecuador. She loved the people,

especially the children. They raised two successful sons, David (Brenda, children

Rachel -deceased, Ethan, Abigail & Lydia) and Michael (Jennifer, children

Jordan, Aidan, Connor, Dylan). Having these young men encouraged Kathy to

complete her bachelor's degree at the University of Houston and fulfill a very

successful career in the oil and gas industry. She loved her flowers (yellow roses

her favorite), bird watching, camping when the boys were younger, pool

parties/BBQ’s, reading, traveling (USA, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Canada, several

islands), many fur babies and decorating their home. But she especially loved

her family and doting on her grandchildren. Upon Tom’s death in 2016 and

Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Kathy moved to Azle TX in 2018 to be closer to her

oldest son and his family. She loved her new apartment that she shared with her

dog Harley. She would jump in her car and explore the area to see the old county

courthouses and other impressive north Texas architecture. Unfortunately, within

2 years after her move and after previous extensive medical care, the breast

cancer she so heroically battled returned. She peacefully passed away on

November 29, 2020. Kathy was a strong but loving woman and is missed by her

family. She was predeceased by her parents, husband of 50 years Tom and

granddaughter Rachel Nicole Bates which she is now with in Heaven. She is

survived by her sons and their families and her siblings Margaret Fallon (Ted

Lemonovich), Anne Gordon (Gary), Mary Bridget Kemper (Fred), Roberta Rogers

Henke (Fred) and Timothy Fallon (Susan). All her siblings miss the fun lunch

excursions and visits with her. She is also missed by many nieces, nephews,

great-nieces, great-nephews and friends. May God rest her soul