Vivian Bates

Mom. Everyone's mom. There are hundreds of people who call her mom. Friends, family, friends of family...even strangers were all treated the same. Just mom.
  She grew up in Louisville, Ky., the daughter of Irish immigrants, in 1934. Married Charles Bates in 1949, and had 9 kids. Mother, as I always called her (there are a lot of women I called "Mom", but only one Mother). She was always fair, enjoyed good humor, and had a great laugh. Her and The Dad always made a point of involving all the kids in everything. We, as a family, had a lot of great times. We played games...even invented games to include everyone  from all ages,,. She always had time, however, to lend an ear if you needed to talk, or wipe away a tear if that's what you need, and, yes, to bring you back in line, if you needed that. Mother will be greatly missed. Her laugh, her love, her sage intelligence are the basis behind everything we, as a family, know and are and hold dear. Mother, we love you, we miss you, and we all are indebted to you and The. Dad for all we are, and all we will ever be. We all love you.