Michael Shay Bates

Ret. Sergeant First Class Michael Shay Bates, 60, who served his country over three-and-a-half decades in the U.S. Army, passed away at his home on Thursday, August 5, 2021 after a brief battle with COVID-19.
Born in Annapolis, MD, on September 22, 1960, Mike grew up in Wichita, KS, with his younger sister, Kimberly. From an early age, he was enamored by his grandfather's stories of serving in World War II. After graduating from Wichita Southeast High School, he enlisted in the United States Army, marking the beginning of a military career that would span 36 years and three continents.
He served twice in the War in Afghanistan, first in 2003 and again in 2007. In between deployments, he married his wife, Roseanna, with whom he helped raise three remarkable, resilient stepsons.
Mike spent most of his career at Camp Blanding, where he continued to work after his retirement. Throughout his life, he held onto a warrior's mentality, while serving as a mentor and a confidant to so many of his fellow soldiers, whom he considered his brothers.
Mike is survived by his three sons, Fuhren, Fuhteh and Fuhchen; his father, Carl Bates; his sister, Kim and her three children.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
A visitation will be held on Monday, August 16, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 12:00 noon, both at Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073, (904) 264-1233.