Don Douglas Bates

Don Douglas Bates, 63, passed peacefully, from this life into Heaven, Sunday, April 11, 2021. He was surrounded by his wife and children.

Don was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 17, 1957, and raised in the Newcastle area, where he was a graduate of the class of 1976. Don met his future wife, Kathi (Adams) Bates in the spring of 1973 while both were still in high school. They were married in Denver, Colorado in 1984. Shortly after their marriage the young couple relocated to Nashville, Tennessee.

Building a career in the construction industry Don worked first as a brick mason while successfully learning additional building trades that would serve him well as he established himself as a General Contractor. No matter how many homes he built, being a bricklayer was in his blood and there wasn’t anything more satisfying to him than a trowel in his hand and a level in the other.

Don was not one to watch a lot of sports, but he did have three teams that he rarely missed watching when they played, the University of Tennessee Volunteers football team, the Atlanta Braves, and the Raiders. A gardening enthusiast, he passed that love on to his children and grandson. Don was always up for a rousing game of Corn Hole with family and friends.

Though he loved his work, the thing that brought him the most joy was his family. As a father of five and a Poppy to one grandchild, he taught by example the importance of faith and family. A quiet, gentle man Don passed on a strong work ethic to his children, a fiercely protective nature, his faith in God and most of all his unconditional love that they will carry forever in their hearts.

Don is survived by the love of his life, his wife: Kathi and children: Jeffrie (wife Katy), Zachery, Katie, Nicholas, and Matthew, along with one grandson, Gavin.

He was preceded in death by his beloved mother: Shirley “Mickey” Bates, as well as his maternal Grandparents, Ed and Audra Gore, his much-loved Mother and Father-In-Law, Rev. Ora and Billie Adams.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Don’s favorite charity, Healing Hearts Respite Foundation, a 501 (C)(3) Charitable Organization. Please learn more about this wonderful organization at www.healingheartsrespitefoundation.org

Per Don’s request a private service will be conducted on April 14, 2021. A Celebration of Life will honor Don at a later date, details will be posted once confirmed.

Don will be lovingly remembered in our hearts forever…we have the assurance that this is not goodbye, but instead, it is…see you soon.

Everything I Own – BREAD

You sheltered me from harm Kept me warm, kept me warm. You gave my life to me Set me free, set me free The finest years I ever knew, Were all the years I had with you And I would give anything I own I’d give up my life, my heart, my home I would give everything I own, Just to have you back again You taught me how to love What it’s of, what it’s of You never said too much, But still you showed the way And I knew from watching you Nobody else could ever know, The part of me that can’t let go And I would give anything I own, I’d give up my life, my heart, my home I would give everything I own, Just to have you back again Is there someone you know, You’re loving them so, But taking them all for granted? You may lose them one day Someone takes them away. And they don’t hear the words you long to say I would give anything I own I’d give up my life, my heart, my home I would give everything I own. Just to have you back again Just to touch you once again