Elizabeth Caroline Bates

Patten and Orono - Elizabeth Caroline (McCourt) Bates, 90, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2023. Born on November 20, 1932, on the McCourt Farm in Patten, Maine to Iva (Kelley) and Carl McCourt. She graduated from Patten Academy where she played basketball and also met the love of her life and husband of 66 years, George Bates. After graduating she left for Connecticut, where they married in 1952 and George left to serve in Korea for 18 months. They settled in Connecticut until deciding to return to Maine. They lived in Lewiston for a number of years before taking over the McCourt homestead in Patten where they raised their five children and lived for over 40 years. Elizabeth was a caretaker at heart, a devoted wife and mother as well as a devoted daughter and sister. She helped care for her mother and brother until they passed and many others in their time of need. Whenever anyone stopped by for a visit, Liz (Grammy) was always ready to share her famous peanut butter cookies. She was a devout Catholic and lived her faith in Jesus every day. Our Mother’s saying was, “The good Lord will take care of everything.” and truer words were never spoken! She was a member of the Parish Council, St Paul’s Sodality, and served as Sacristan, Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St Paul’s. She helped to keep the church clean and decorated for the liturgical celebrations.

Liz had several jobs over her lifetime from working at the Patten Mill to being a field boss at Mayberry’s Potato Farm. She enjoyed cooking for Head Start, the nursing home, lodges and ski areas intermittently. During hunting season, Bear Mountain Lodge was a favorite workplace and enjoyed a wonderful friendship with owner, Deanna Gerow. For a few summers, she ran Bates Mobile Lunch, famous for the foot long hot dog! She especially enjoyed mowing the Patten cemetery and other town properties and could handle a zero turn lawn mower and a weedwacker like a pro! She also turned their home into a Group Home where she cared for two elderly women and two men besides her brother.

Elizabeth is survived by her five children; Margaret (Charles) Davis of Belgrade, ME, Jeffrey Bates of Patten, ME, Wendy Robertson of Milford, ME, Mary Beth (LeRoy) Willett of Bradley, ME, David (Leslie) Bates of Warwick, RI, and Thomas (Kimberly) Bates of Oakland ME.

Elizabeth “Grammy” adored her grandchildren and their partners; Adam (Kim), Joshua (Jeff), Jessica (Seth), Tiffany (Mike), Michael, Lisa (Jake), Mathew (Liz), Natalie (Danny), Laura, Cassie, Teddi (Edward), and Kaylee. She was blessed with 10 great grandchildren and treasured every moment with; Kaden, Nicholas, Ellie, Michael, Ethan, Sofia, Daniel, Avery, Dylan and Colter along with a multitude of wonderful nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews, too numerous to list, with a special thank you to Anne Mundy. Liz is also survived by sister-in-laws: Donna Kilgore, Nadene, Sally and Rosemary Bates.

Elizabeth is predeceased by her husband George, her parents, her sister MaryAnne (Ronny) Guiggey, brothers Kenny (Peggy) McCourt, John (Betty) McCourt, Wally (Marilyn) McCourt and Buddy (Carl, Jr) McCourt.

Visiting hours; 5-7PM, Friday, May 26, 2023 at Birmingham Funeral home, 438 Main Street, Old Town, Maine. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11AM on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at the Parish of the Resurrection, Holy Family Church, 429 Main Street, Old Town, Maine, with a luncheon to follow at the Parish Hall. Committal Service will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Orono Commons Resident Council Activity Fund, Memo: Memory of Elizabeth Bates. Mail to: 117 Bennoch Rd, Orono, Maine 04473.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BirminghamFuneralHome.com for the Bates family.