Ethel Juanita Bates

Ethel Juanita Bates, 78 year old Earlsboro, Oklahoma resident passed away March 7, 2019 in Seminole, Oklahoma. She was born June 10, 1940 in Portland, Arkansas to Lofton and Betty (Spiras) Griffin. Ethel married Lyle Dewayne Bates on September 30, 1960 in Omaha, Nebraska. She worked as an LPN at Meeker Nursing Home. Ethel was a member of The Church of God of the Firstborn. She loved the Lord and prayed for her children daily. She also had a great love of music. Ethel is survived by sons; Ralph Bates and Roberta Lujan of Meeker, Oklahoma, Roy Edward Bates and Debra of Earlsboro, Oklahoma, daughters; Linda Carter, Wellston, Oklahoma, Sherry Freeman of Prague, Oklahoma, Pamela Barfield of Eufaula, Oklahoma and Donna Allen and Randy of Houston, Texas, brothers; Roy Dean Griffin and Susan of Good Del, Michigan, Kenneth Ray Griffin and Becky Marie of Hamburg, Arkansas, sister; Betty Ann Griffin of Tennessee, 21 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Ethel was preceded in death by her parents Lofton and Betty Griffin, her husband Lyle (December 6, 2017) and siblings; Trecil Miller, Bertha Crow, Lois McDonald, Harold Griffin, Carl Griffin, Alvie Don Griffin and Paul Griffin. Funeral services for Ethel will be at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at the Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole, Oklahoma with Brother Charles Brackeen and Brother Jim Hatfield officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Casket bearers will be Terry Barfield, Jason Barfield, Clayton Collier, Justin Bates, Randy Lee Allen and Aaron Kye Khan. Honorary bearers will be Warren Bowman, Randy Allen, Caleb Collier, Joseph Collier, Dixon Bates and Jalinda Bowman. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: March 12, 2019, 2:00 PM Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel located at 1001 N. Milt Phillips Avenue, Seminole, OK 74868