Clyde Freeman Bates, 72, of Franklin, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, December 24, 2005.

A native of Macon County, he was the son of the late Boyd Bates and Lola Marie Watts Bates. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Jean Bates, and two brothers, Dennis and Marvin Bates. He was founder and owner of Bates Concrete; and was a US Army Veteran. Clyde recently accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

He is survived by his wife, of 49 years, Mildred Bateman Bates; three children, Timothy Clyde Bates and wife, Carol, James Terry Bates and wife, Sherri, and Lynda Marie Elliott and husband, Dewey "Corky", all of Franklin; three brothers, Ellis Bates of Valdosta, GA, Nelson and Danny "Chuck" Bates, both of Franklin; two sisters, Winnie Vinson and Joyce Lewis both of Franklin; seven grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 28, in the Chapel of Macon Funeral Home. Rev. Benny Bagwell and Rev. Doug Moore, and Rev. Paul Hill will officiate. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery with military rites conducted by VFW Post 7339 and American Legion Post 108.

The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, December 27, at Macon Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Timothy Bryan Bates, Jennifer Nicole Allen, Adam Luke Bates, Caleb Aaron Bates, Jeremiah Dillon Bates, Ethan Avery Elliott, and Matthew Daniel Elliott.

Memorial donations may be made to the Victory Baptist Church Building Fund, 278 Victory Church Road, Sylva, NC 28779.

Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.