Clarence Miller Bates Jr

Clarence Miller Bates Jr. went to be with his Savior, Thursday, July 30th, at his home in Sedona, Arizona, at Red Rock Crossing which he loved so much. Clarence was born March 23, 1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In January, he and his wife Bertha (Treichel) celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary. He and his wife moved to Sedona in 1972 from Southern California where he had followed in his father and grandfather's footsteps as a tool and diemaker. The couple opened a Christian bookstore in West Sedona which they owned and operated for a number of years. The bookstore (The Mustard Seed) was not his only interest, as he was always an avid photographer, silversmith, and lifelong gunsmith. He was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. Word spread quickly that Clarence could fix anything from an antique gun to a wooden hairbrush. He was konown as a man who kept the projector at the Flicker Shack operating along with the popcorn machine. He also developed a knack for repairing timepieces. There was nothing he would not attempt to fix.
Clarence was always an active member of the church as his relationship with his Lord was very important to him. He loved to dance before the Lord.
He is survived by his wife and three children: Marilyn (Bates) Pyle who lives with them; Phyllis (Bates) Nordquist and her husband Al of Camarillo, California; and Eugene Bates and his wife Roberta of Morrow, Arkansas; eight grandchildren: Tim Pyle and his wife Cindy, Bronnie (Pyle) Chastain, Ty Bates and his wife Pamela, Doty (Bates) Allen and her husband Randall, Heather (Bates) Young and her husband Erik, Christian Nordquist and his wife Lisa, Aaron Nordquist and his wife Jill, Natascia (Nordquist) Marti and her husband Robert; 25 great-children (one of whom preceded him in death); and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial service will be held at Christ Center Wesleyan Church, 580 Brewer Road, Sedona, Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 11:00 AM.