Warren Bates

Warren Wesley Bates

Resident of Las Vegas

Loving son, brother, nephew, cousin and friend, passed away on April 23.

He was born January 24, 1961, to Warren and Fern Bates in San Jose, California. Gone too soon, he nonetheless had a tremendous impact on the friends and family members whose lives he touched.

Warren knew in high school that his calling was to be a journalist. He began delivering newspapers as a paperboy when he was 15 years old. Later he attended San Jose State University, where he got his degree in journalism in 1986. He had several newspaper internships, and after graduating from college was hired by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He covered various beats as a reporter, including district court, federal court and general assignment. As a general assignment reporter, he specialized in unusual feature stories about unusual places, including remote desert outposts. He was promoted in 1999 to assistant city editor, a position he held until his death. Warren took pride in his work and was highly regarded in the newsroom. He was a key editor on several stories that won the R-J awards in the prestigious Best of the West newspaper competition.

Besides his work, about which he was passionate, Warren was an amazing photographer and an accomplished musician. His photographs can be seen at www.roadtozzyzx.com and also on his flickr page, www.flickr.com/photos/33844907@N03/. He was a caring, compassionate, kind and gentle man.

He is survived by his father, Warren Bates of San Jose, Calif.; a sister, Susana Bates of Oakland, Calif.; aunt Jo-Ann Northey of Lacey, Wash.; aunt Lorna Lillo of Halifax, Canada; uncle Milton Lillo of Montreal, Canada; and uncle Victor Lillo (Doreen) of Edmonton, Canada. He is also survived by many cousins and friends, the entire newsroom of the Review-Journal, and his beloved dog, Vanna.

A memorial will be held at 10 a.m. this Sunday, May 16th, in the Cathedral Room at the Springs Preserve, 333 South Valley View Boulevard in Las Vegas. Guests should park in the main parking lot; signage will direct you to the memorial. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to City of Hope or a charity of choice.