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 and Bro Shane Duke officiating. Brian Causey will deliver the eulogy. The Bates Family will receive guests on Wednesday July 8, 2026 at the funeral home from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Interment will follow in the Welcome Home Cemetery at Grayson, LA.

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 the 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, 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 Caldwell Parish Road Supervisor with Caldwell Parish Police Jury for 10 Years. He helped with the starting of Lake Duchesne during his time with Police Jury. He loved hunting, working in his gardens, fishing but the best thing in his life was work. His Work Ethice was incomprable.

Left to cherish his memory is his son Michael Joe Bates and wife Tammie, his grandson  Max and wife Abi and great- grandson:  Myles Joshua and his brother 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.