Cleora Bates Obituary
Cleora Deen Bates, age 80, of Charleston, IL, passed away at 3:38 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at Arbor Rose in Charleston.
Funeral services honoring her life will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 7426 Country Club Rd, Mattoon, IL 61938 with Joshua Garrett officiating. Burial will follow at Mound Cemetery in Charleston. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 28, 2022 at Schilling Funeral Home.
Cleora was born on February 9, 1942 in Pocatello, Idaho, the daughter of Merrill Hammond and Sarah (Beesley) Hammond. She married Lawrence Bates on May 31, 1962.
Survivors include her husband; children, Liz (Steve) Harvey of Monroeville, PA, Ann (Craig) Broadbent of Mt. Laurel, NJ, Cathy (Ron) Thomas of Pflugerville, TX, Jonathan (Sasha) Bates of Tempe, AZ, and Benjamin (Melanee) Bates of Charleston, IL; 17 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; and brother, David Hammond of Tooele, UT.
Cleora was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Cleta (Hammond) Whipple; brothers, Richard Hammond and Milton Hammond; and grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Bates and Aiden Broadbent.
Cleora was a founding member of the Coles County Genealogical Society. She purchased the 5 Mile House and sold it to the 5 Mile House Foundation. Cleora worked many years for the State of Illinois, but she found her greatest joy in her family. Cleora will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her.
