Barbara "Aunt BBJ" Jean Bates

Barbara Jean Smith bates was born on February 19th, 1947 in Cookson, OK, the daughter of Riley Smith and Betsy Ann Gilbert. She was raised with three sisters and two brothers, Addie, Walter, Howard, Betty and Edith. She graduated from Bagley High School and started a family. She was the proud mother of two sons, Cicero (Bill) Lance Smith and Benjamin Brent Bates. She was a homemaker, and nothing made her happier than when she took care of her sons and kept their home and lives happy. She raised her family in the Horseshoe Bend Community, and loved spending time around the river, walking or doing a little fishing. She loved animals of all kinds, especially her feline friends, Icky and Tiger, and loved going to the zoo. When she was younger, there was nothing than an evening spent playing cards with her family or coloring in one of her books. Her nieces and nephews were an important part of her life, she enjoyed being around them and liked to tease them with spooky stories, or spooky movies on the TV, often giving herself the “creepies” instead. She had a kind heart and would go to any length to help anyone needing her help. She knew her own mind and had no problem telling you how she felt about any subject. Her life had its fair share of moments, her husband Benjamin died in 1989, and she lost both of her sons, as well as all of her brothers and sisters. Yet the smile and her happy attitude stayed. Barbara went home to join her family on Friday, September 15th, 2023 in Tahlequah at the age of 76. She will be greatly missed.

She is preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Fannie Ann Proctor, her mother and father, two sons, Cicero and Brent, her husband Benjamin, her brothers and sisters, Addie Robertson, Walter Young, Howard Bias, Betty Renfrow, and Edith Risley, and three nephews, Jerry Risley, Lee Risley, and Jeff Risley.

Those left to celebrate her life include her nieces and nephews, JoAnn Swift of Tahlequah, OK, Joyce Risley Figuereo of Vian, OK, Juanita Cowett of Vian, OK, Jan White of Vian, OK, Jack Skinner and wife Cindy of Tahlequah, Lou Skinner of Claremore, OK, Randy Skinner and wife Renea of Colorado, Johnny Risley and wife Susan of Tahlequah, OK, Jimmy Risley and wife Darlene of Sallisaw, OK, and Sam Risley and wife Lorinda of Vian, OK. She also leaves many other nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews as well as many friends and a host of loved ones too numerous to mention.

A visitation for Aunt BBJ will be held Tuesday, September 19, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home, 117 West Delaware Street, Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home.

Aunt BBJ will be laid to rest in Tahlequah City Cemetery, 1251 West Fox Street, Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464.

Serving as pallbearers are Randy Skinner, Richard McSherry, Gary Swift, Chris Skinner, Kendall Skinner, Kyle Skinner, Jack Skinner and Lewis Skinner.

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