Sam Bates

1940 - 2025

Sam Bates, 85, passed away Saturday, October 4, 2025 after a long battle with kidney failure and dementia. Born August 19, 1940 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Jack A. Bates and Elizabeth (Betty) Boddy Bates, Sam was the oldest of four siblings. Sam attended Sidney Lanier Elementary School, Woodrow Wilson Junior High, and Will Rogers High School. Sam graduated from Northeastern State College in 1964 with a BS in Accounting. Soon after graduation he went to work for Reading & Bates Drilling Company as an assistant office manager for their operation in the Philippines. From there, he continued working in the Oil & Gas Drilling industry and held posts in Africa, Europe, and Asia.

While working in Singapore, he met his future wife Carolyn Swee Yong Chan. They were married on October 16, 1976. Sam and Carolyn moved to Tulsa in 1978 where Sam developed and worked in commercial real estate. In 2000, Sam realized his dream of sailing the world in retirement. Sam and Carolyn lived full time on their sail boat while sailing the Caribbean. After 6 years they purchased a home in Florida but continued to sail the U.S. and Canadian east cost as far as Nova Scotia. During this time, they met many sailing couples and made many lifelong friends.

Preceded in death by his parents and his sister Elizabeth, he is survived by his wife of 49 years, Carolyn, their three sons, Gary (Olline) Bates, Derek (Anabell) Bates, Alan Bates, sister June Schweiger (Craig), brother Allen Bates (Marcia), and 6 grandchildren.