Ida May Lohman Bates

Ida May Lohman Bates, 84, of Kansas City, Mo., passed away peacefully early in the morning of November 25, 2007. Born July 1, 1923, to Ira H. and Ida May (Maring) Lohman, Ida May was raised in Jefferson City and graduated with distinction from Jefferson City High School. She attended Randolph Macon College and the University of Missouri, graduating with Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education. She taught briefly at Oswego State Teacher's College prior to marrying her brother's college room- mate, Dr. G. Comer Bates on June 19, 1948. Ida May and Comer enjoyed nearly 55 years of marriage together prior to Comer's passing in 2003. Ida May was always known for her generosity and her willingness to help others, as well as for her dedication to her husband and children. She was actively involved in Avondale Methodist Church and Chapter JK PEO, as well as many other civic interests. She loved to travel, and her trips with Comer took her throughout the world. Ida May is preceded in death by her husband, Comer; daughter, Susan Scott Bates; sister, Mary Margaret (Lohman) Helmreich; as well as her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bill and Norma (Bates) Spencer. She is survived by 10 grandchildren and her four children, Dennis and Elizabeth Berry of Northfield, Minn., Bryan and Barbara Bates of Flagstaff, Ariz., Kathryn Bates of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Larry and Julie Bates of Kansas City. She is also survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Ira and Louise Lohman of Saratoga, Calif., L. Maring and Marguerite Lohman of Rocheport, Mo.; as well as her brother in-law, L. Walter Helmreich of Ann Arbor, Mich.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, W.H. (Bert) and Joy Bates of Kansas City. A service of remembrance will be held for the church and community at Avondale United Methodist Church on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 10:30 a.m. The family requests that remembrance donations may be made to Avondale Methodist Church, the Shepherd Center of the Northland, or the Salvation Army. Arr.: D.W. Newcomer's Sons White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 N. Antioch Road, Gladstone, MO 64119 (816) 452-8419.