Carol Gay (Dockins) Bates, daughter of the late Freeman Dockins and Estella (Brown) Dockins was born June 29, 1939, in Wideman, AR. She passed away on February 4, 2025, surrounded by family in Batesville, AR, at the age of 85.
Carol graduated from Calico Rock High School in 1957. She married James C. Bates in 1958, and they spent the next 17 years as a military family, traveling extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Canada. She enjoyed military life and was Chair of her Air Force Squadron Wives Club. Upon leaving the military, the family moved to Calico Rock in 1975, then settled in Batesville, AR, in 1978. Carol worked in Security at Eastman Kodak in Batesville until her retirement. She also volunteered for some time as Coordinator of the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.
Carol was a talented artist, winning awards for her oil paintings. Those paintings are a lasting reminder of the creativity and beauty that she brought into the world.
Carol is survived by her spouse, James C. Bates; children, Dr. Ron Bates of Batesville and Sherry (Virgil) Lawrence of Calico Rock; brother Donnie Dockins and sister Pamela Shaver.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, brother Noel Freeman Dockins and sisters Brenda Sue Pinkston and Francis Kay Logan.
In accordance with Carol’s wishes, the family will memorialize privately.
