Funeral services for Joe Carroll Bates, age 88 of Columbia, will be held 10:00 AM, Thursday, July 9, 2026, from the Columbia Chapel of Riser & Son Funeral Home with Bro. Jack McKeithen officiating. Brian Causey will deliver the eulogy. Interment will follow at Welcome Home Cemetery, Grayson, LA. The Bates family will receive guests at the funeral home on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 5 PM until 8 PM.

Joe Carroll Bates was born on January 9, 1938, in Louisiana to the union of his parents, the late Joe Erwin Bates and Carrie Leigh Collier Bates. He passed from this life on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe following an extended illness. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Dorothy McKeithen Bates; his sister, Ruth Hymer; brother-in-law, Boots Hymer; brother-in-law, Billy McKeithen; and sister-in-law, Mrs. Gloria Pair. He served in the United States Army at Fort Leonard Military Base in Missouri for two years. His career in public service began with the State of Louisiana, Bamburg Steel Fabricators and he served as the Caldwell Parish Road Supervisor with Caldwell Parish Police Jury for 10 Years. He helped with starting of the Lake Duchesne project during his time with the Police Jury. He loved hunting, working in his gardens, and fishing but the thing he enjoyed most was work. His work ethic was incomparable.

Left to cherish his memory is his son, Michael Joe Bates and wife, Tammie; his grandson,  Max and wife, Abi; great- grandson,  Myles Joshua; and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law,  Denny and Delaina McKeithen.

Pallbearers will be Randy Hatten, Jimmie Bond, Otis Gordy, Tommy Rowland, Ron Wyant and Brian Causey.

Honorary pallbearers include Bubba Calhoun and Big Jake Jacobson..