Nancy I Bates

Nancy Bates, age 84, born in Astoria, Oregon, was raised in Hammond, Oregon. She grew up in and around Hammond, with the Columbia River at her front door and the Pacific Ocean just a bicycle ride away. Her father, Lawrence Rogers, was co-owner of the Point Adams Packing Company there. Nancy worked in her father’s cannery and even had a boat named after her, the NANCY IRENE. A favorite childhood memory was running with her friends along the Coast Guard walkway out to the boathouse, diving off the boathouse and swimming in the Columbia River. Nancy’s memories of life by the sea were an interesting part of the area’s history and a cherished time in her own life.

Nancy attended high school at St. Helen’s Hall in Portland and graduated from Lewis and Clark College with a degree in Education and a minor in Journalism. She returned to the North Coast after college and met and married Edward Bates, taught school for 20 years and raised four children along the way. She taught her own children along with many local children in her own private Kindergarten and then went on to teach grade school in Seaside.

Nancy enjoyed Music, piano playing and singing in a local women’s choir: The Sea Tones. She also loved cooking, swimming, tennis and golf and was a member of the Astoria Golf and Country Club. Cooking meals for family get-togethers was her passion. Nancy loved writing poems, stories and articles. She wrote for the Clatsop County Historical Society, the Daily Astorian and her local education foundation. Nancy was a 50 year member of the local (PEO) Philanthropic Educational Organization and served in several offices, committee chair positions and author for the local book corner. She remained devoted to her PEO sisters throughout the years and cherished her friendships with them.

Nancy’s greatest joy in life was being surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her survivors include her son, Eddie Bates and daughter in-law Trish Bates of Salmon Creek, Washington, her daughter, Barbara Swanson and son-in-law Mike Swanson of Naselle, Washington, her son, Tom Bates and daughter-in-law Liz Bates of Gig Harbor, Washington and her son, David Bates of Seattle, Washington. Additional survivors include granddaughters Sara Swanson and husband Rod Groce, Laura Seiferd and husband Shane Seiferd and grandsons T.J. Bates and wife Rebecca Schaller, Eddie Bates and Travis Bates. Great grandchildren include Cannon and Preston Seiferd and Tyler Kolterman.

A “Celebration of Life” memorial reception will be held on Saturday, June 21st at the Astoria Golf and Country Club from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The address is: 33445 Sunset Beach Lane, Warrenton, Oregon.

Memorial contributions may be made to:

Seaside PEO chapter CR: c/o Janet Murray, 461 Woodland Ave., Gearhart, OR. 97138.