BATES, Bertha Elizabeth

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, Arizona Tuesday, April 24, 2012 Bertha Bates July 5, 1918 ~ April 20, 2012 Bertha Bates, 93, of Sedona, AZ went to be with Jesus April 20, 2012. She was born in Philadelphia, PA July 5, 1918. Bertha was a loving wife to Clarence for 73 years, until he preceded her in death July 30, 2009. She is survived by her daughter Marilyn Pyle of Sedona, daughter Phyllis Nordquist (Al) of California, and son Eugene (Roberta) of Arkansas. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren (preceded in death by great grandson Joshua) and 6 great great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2 P.M., Thursday, April 26, 2012 at Christ Center, 580 Brewer Road, Sedona. Information provided by survivors. ~~~~~~~~~~ Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, Arizona Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Josephine Elizabeth Bates, age 92, passed away on April 9, 2012 in Casa Grande. A long-time resident of Globe, Miss Bates was a prominent figure in education in Arizona. She was a graduate of Emporia State University, Kans., where she was named Distinguished Alumna in 1975, and received her Master’s degree from Columbia University in New York. For 30 years she taught kindergarten in the Globe-Miami area public schools. During this time she also served in leadership positions in the Classroom Teachers Organization and the Arizona Education Association, at one time or another holding every state level office in each of these groups. During the 1950s she was instrumental in the desegregation of the teaching staff in the Globe-Miami schools. After her retirement from teaching, she accepted a field staff position with the Arizona Education Association, where she served as an advocate for teachers in Pinal, Graham, Greenlee and Gila counties for 13 years. Following her second retirement she was elected to the Globe School Board, where she served for eight years, five of them as president. She was also an active member of the All Arizona School Retirees Association, in which she held the offices of state president, vice-president, and parliamentarian. Miss Bates was a member and leader in Delta Kappa Gamma, American Association of University Women, and the Arizona Federation of Democratic Women’s Club. She was a life-long Episcopalian and devoted to her church. Miss Bates was predeceased by her parents, Josephine Huff and Henry Albert Bates. Although she leaves no biological family, she is survived by hundreds of former students, whom she called her “dear children,” and many friends. Especially close to her were Cheryl and Jim Richards of Globe, and Carolyn and Bill Scribner of Casa Grande, with whom she made her home during the last four years. A memorial service will be held on May 2, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 2222 S. Price Road, in Tempe. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the AASRA Scholarship Foundation, 16165 N. 83rd Ave., Ste. 201, Peoria, AZ 85382, Community Hospices of America Foundation, 1675 E. Monument Plaza Circle, Casa Grande, AZ 85122, or to her church.