Carol L. Bates

Carol was born on February 9, 1941, in Iron Mountain, the daughter of the late Thomas Stanley Hicks and Lillian (Pollard) Hicks. A lifelong resident of the Iron Mountain/Kingsford area, she graduated from Iron Mountain High School in 1959.

Following her graduation, Carol began her career at Wisconsin Electric Power Company. She made lifelong friends. These coworkers continued to meet for lunch and reminisce for years, sharing fond memories of their time together.

On July 6, 1963, Carol married Thomas I. Bates at the First United Methodist Church in Iron Mountain. Together, they built a life full of love, laughter, and a deep sense of family.

Carol was an active member of the First United Methodist Church playing the piano, serving/baking for the “Cornish Tea” bazaar and free assistance with any bookkeeping tasks.

Carol L. Bates

When the family later joined Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Carol again became active, joining the ladies circle and later took a position working as Financial Secretary for 10 years, where again, she made lifelong friends.

Carol had a passion for making her home a warm and inviting place, always staying on trend with a fresh coat of paint or new wallpaper. She was a beautiful piano player and there was always music playing somewhere in the house.

She was an exceptional cook and baker, always preparing her signature sweet treats with love, knowing everyone’s favorite. No one could make a pasty, saffron buns, or heavy cake like Carol!

Her greatest joy, however, was tending to her gardens. Carol found peace and fulfillment in nurturing her flowers, spending hours outdoors, pruning, weeding, and cultivating beauty.

In most recent years, Carol looked forward to the girls visiting to play cards. (card club — Gay, Bev, Chris, Linda, alumni Karen, Judy) Getting together weekly or sometimes twice a week enjoying lunch and social time together.

Carol is survived by her four children, Paula (Doug) Forstrom of Felch, Shari (Troy) Herout of Hugo, Minn., Drew (Kathy) Bates of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and David (Kirstin) Bates of Neenah, Wis.; 10 grandchildren, Sarah (Josh) Schuiteman and Gunnar Forstrom, Lauren and Gretchen Herout, Brittany and Brett Bates, Grant, Morgan, Logan and Brinley Bates; and one great-grandchild, Bristol Schuiteman.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Bates; parents, Stanley and Lillian Hicks; in-laws, George Irving and Iris Bates; and siblings, Thomas (Winnie) Hicks, Merlin (Julie)/(Kathleen) Hicks, Betty (David) Forcey, Ethel (Warren) Lidbeck and Gordon (Lindes) Hicks.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to family, friends and neighbors who visited in person or by phone, offered to run errands, snowblower/shoveled, or made a treat/meal for her. To the entire staff at Freeman’s Nursing home, even though it was a brief time we thank you for all you did!

Visitation will be on Saturday, April 5, from 9:30 until 11 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain, with Rev. Dr. Nicholas Hopman officiating the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at the church. The burial will be in Iron Mountain Cemetery Park.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Carol Bates online at www.enashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home with the funeral arrangements.