Jerry Duncan Bates
March 25, 1975 - January 25, 2024

Jerry Duncan Bates, 48, of Brookland, Arkansas passed away at NEA Baptist Hospital on January 25, 2024. He was born on March 25, 1975 in Dallas Texas to Jerry and Martha Bates. Jerry was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. Jerry enjoyed working his hands that lead him to a lifelong career in industrial electrical controls and engineering. He enjoyed working with his friends at Nestle Foods. It wasn’t a job to him but a passion. Jerry was a loving husband to the love of his life and soul mate Kara (Tilley) Bates. He loved to travel with her. Often they were taking trips on his motorcycle or the sports car. He loved to spend time with his family that he was so proud of and loved. His other hobbies included: traveling, fishing, building things and working on projects, loved making bets and being right all the time, watching the cowboys play football with his dog Lady in their matching jerseys, driving on dirt roads listening to music while singing, shooting guns, dreamed of moving home to Texas, telling jokes and tall tails and most of all annoying his kids he that loved dearly. Jerry is survived by his wife Kara (Tilley) Bates, their three beautiful daughters: Amber L. Bates of Cushman, Kyla M. Bates of Jonesboro, and Christina D. Bates (Angel Martinez) of Milwaukee. He has one handsome son Landon Royal Bates of Brookland. One beautiful sister Lena Bates of Cushman. Two amazing grandsons and granddaughter: Neko O. Bates of Jonesboro, Silas R. Shepherd of Cushman and Kenadee Shepherd of Florida. He is survived by his honoree brother Scott Lee Holt of Russellville and god father Paul “Thirsty” Cranfill of Batesville. He is survived by a host of other wonderful extended family members and friends. He is preceded in by his parents: Jerry Ray Bates and Martha Louis (Duncan) Bates of Cushman. A ceremony for celebration of life will be held at a later date and will be announced date, time and location. The Family request in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or The American Red Cross in Jerry’s honor. “There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart, I'll always be with you.”