|
Light a Candle
On Thursday March 4, 2021 James Anthony Bates, known by many as Jim, passed peacefully at home surrounded by his loving wife, children, and grandchildren. Despite his hopes, he was not abducted by aliens but instead was taken to Science Care to allow research on his body and will later be cremated. His spirit was released from his body and is now exploring the universe. He lived his life outside the box and will do so in death. James was born August 29, 1938 in Hannibal Missouri to Muriel and James. During his life he lived in Missouri, Illinois, Idaho, Texas, Louisiana, Egypt, North Carolina, Alaska, North Dakota, and Colorado. He lived 9 lives in the short 82 years we had him. He lived a full life which he attacked headfirst mostly without a helmet. He had a lifelong love affair with Coca-Cola, Snickers, tapioca pudding, pecan pie, roasted chicken thighs, shrimp, and cream of mushroom soup. He attracted more women than a shoe sale at Macy’s; which explains his 8+ children. He entertained the likes of Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson while he worked as the head bouncer at the Louisiana Hayride. During his law enforcement career, he was a state trooper in Longview, TX and later became a detective in Fayetteville, NC. He worked doing auto theft recovery, was an officer in the Narcotics Drug Task Force, became an explosive specialist, and helped take down a corrupt sheriff. In 1997 in Hurgada, Egypt he disarmed mine fields where he came close to death when a landmine he was removing detonated. He experienced third degree burns and lost his foot. He spent time in the Cairo hospital recovering from his burns and learning how to adapt to his new life with a prosthetic leg. When he returned to the United States, he trained to be a blacksmith, farrier and wheel-wright (a nearly lost art). In Idaho, Jim built a homestead cabin using no power tools while living off the grid. He moved to Alaska in 1983 to once again homestead. He spent his time there raising five children, mushing dogs, gardening for food, raising animals, and harvesting moose and caribou. He hunted for meat but was abjectly against waste and cruelty. James had numerous business ventures including opening a roadside lodge and operating a horse drawn sleigh and carriage with his team of Belgium horses. He later moved to North Dakota and finally settled in Colorado as a clinical hypnotherapist. He met his current wife while living on a sailboat in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. He had a fierce love for animals and was rarely without a German Shepard as his companion. He raised his children to be fiercely independent, work hard, and to dream big. He has passed on his love for animals, independence, home projects, and compassion for others. James is survived by his wife Karen and children Mike, Maranee, Sandy, Marilyn, Cholena (James), Ariana (Jason), Ariel (Boubacar), Brianna, Damjan (Brittni), Tashina (Nicholas), and Shea, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother Muriel, his father James Samuel Bates and his daughter Maureen Peeples. He sadly lost his oldest daughter Maureen on February 27, 2021. We know she was with him holding his hand and guiding him when he passed. James lived his life in many places, full of adventure, children, and experiences. There will be no buildings named after him and no monuments erected in his honor but he touched many peoples’ lives. For a stranger hearing his stories they seem wild and unreal. His life is where tall tales come from. The family would like to thank Bristol Hospice for their loving care, support, and compassion during his final days. The family will be having a private remembrance on March 7, 2021. In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to be made to the Wild Animal Sanctuary, 2999 County Road 53, Keenesburg, CO 80643. https://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org/
