MARION:   Pearl Bates, age 89, died Saturday, January 13, 2007 at the Keystone Nursing Care Center in Keystone following an extended illness.
     Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Thursday, January 18, 2007 at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel in Keystone with Rev. Dr. James Eggert officiating.  Interment will be held at the Keystone Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home from 4 to 8 PM on Wednesday.  A Memorial Fund has been established for Milestones of Marion.
     Pearl was born August 6, 1917 at Springville, IA to William P. and Goldie Mae (Ilgenfritz) Bobst and graduated from the Springville High School in 1936.  She later graduated from the Cedar Rapids Business College.
     On May 20, 1940 she married Elvitt Bates at Clinton, IA. Her husband preceded her in death in 1978.
     A resident of Marion for over forty years, Pearl moved to the Keystone Nursing and Care Center this past month.  She was a former member of St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone and a current member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Marion.  Years ago, she served as a Cub Scout Leader. She was employed as a Micro Film Technologist at Micro Technologies in Cedar Rapids for many years.  She also was employed at Crestview Acres Nursing Home and several clothing stores in Cedar Rapids.  After her retirement she enjoyed winters in Fort Walton Beach, FL.  Pearl adored her children and grandchildren.
     She is survived by her children, Elvitt William (Shirley) Bates of Springville, Bradley Allen (Connie) Bates of St. Petersburg, FL, Dorothy (Dean) Teslik of Swisher, and Cheryl Ann (Ron) Kalina of Freeport, IL; fifteen grandchildren; and twenty-seven great-grandchildren.
     In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Philip Bobst, and her sister, Helen Sherman.