TOMMY W. BATES

Wasilla resident Tommy Wain Bates died Aug. 25, 2010. He passed away peacefully at home with his wife by his side.

Tommy was born May 12, 1948, in New Mexico, and was a Marine sergeant who served his country from 1966 to 1970, including two tours in Vietnam during and after the Tet Offensive.

He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Caroline Bates; children, Anna Lenore and Jason Irizarry, Dorothy Stamper, Robert Bates, Jackie (Matt) Leseman, Larry (Kelly) Starr, and Rebecca (Donnie) Bull. His pride and joy were his grandchildren, J.T. Irizarry, Jimmy Leseman, Joshua Leseman, RaeMi Starr, Alyssa Starr, Katrina Smith, T.J. Stamper, Daniel Stamper, J. Hunter Simms and Tiffany, Courtney, Joshua, KK and Chantell Fleetwood, and many more he loves dearly, as well as great-grandchildren.

Tommy’s memorial service will be 7 p.m. Sept. 3 at Big Lake Baptist Church.

“He touched so many lives and enriched them all that there is no way to measure how greatly he is missed,” his family wrote. “Semper Fi, Tommy.”

Arrangements were with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.