Roy Jay Bates

Due to COVID-19, we are holding off on a Remembrance of Life until we feel we can give him the Celebration that truly honors him with all the friends, family and coworkers that knew, loved and appreciated him. 

Roy Jay Bates, 57, of Tucson, Arizona, left us suddenly on July 14th, 2020. He was born to parents Calvin George Bates and Edna Mae (Lawson) Bates, who preceded him, on November 28th, 1962 in Douglas, Arizona. 

Roy is survived by the love of his life Selena married on May 22nd, 1982, in Douglas, Arizona. Roy is also survived by his sons Timothy Bates, Aaron Bates (Christeen), his daughter Jennifer Bates-Ahumada (Manuel) Grandchildren Conner, Evangelena, Abigayle, Alexis, Layn, Scott-Henry, and Cooper-Haze. Also survived by him are his three siblings Calvin 'Butch' Bates (Joyce), Kathi Finfrock (Daryl), and Cheryl Bates.

Roy loved and devoted himself to his wife Selena for 38 years.  They went on many adventures, raised a beautiful family, and built a beautiful home together that still feels welcoming to their three children. He was extremely proud of the people his children turned out to be and supported them in every way he knew how.

His grandchildren...His grandchildren were his joy. Poppa was not one to go play games with them.  When the grandkids would visit every one of them would sit with him in his corner of the couch cuddled up reading to him, making him read to them but most of the time learning about all things animal on Discovery. Dr, Pol at dinner time anyone? If there was more than one visiting at the same time the kids would jockey for the closest spot as he tried to settle them in beside him.  He beamed as he watched them play and interact with all the things.  Toy tractors to the real tractors. He let them all explore whatever caught their interest. He never fessed up to encouraging some of the risky things the kids did.  He always said, “I was just standing here, they did it all by themselves.”  It was no use to scold him.

Roy spent 36 dedicated years working in the Mechanical systems trade for Madera Mechanical, now Comfort Systems Southwest. He started as a laborer in Bisbee, AZ in 1984 for a small outfit, then was hired on with Madera Mechanical for jobs that were near Douglas.  Sierra Vista, Benson, Willcox, and every so often up to Tucson when a job needed to be caught up.

During this time frame, he drove back and forth to work every day to be home with his family every night.  The decision to relocate in 1991 from Douglas to Tucson was an attempt to alleviate all his travel time.  We had just gotten settled in when Darrel tried to send him to a job back in Douglas. We don't know what conversation took place between them but Roy didn’t work down in Douglas.  Instead, he was sent to Globe, AZ.  Roy spent the next 15 years working on jobs all over the state of Arizona and a good chunk of time in Las Vegas.

Roy filled the General Manager position of Comfort Systems Southwest in Tucson when his mentor Darryl Treu retired. He earned merits and awards of every sort during his 36 years of service. That's not what drove him though.  Roy had a hard work ethic and high expectations of everyone including himself.  “Plum=Perfect”.  He was a plumber. No more explanation needed.

When Roy was not working he was outside taking care of the yard.  The neighbors were always complaining about the yard.  They would bemoan to themselves every Saturday morning when like clockwork, he was out working on it.  If a mesquite bean were to hit the ground, it needed to be dealt with.  Initially, he would rake a section every evening after work, pulling his yard trashcan right along with him.  Then one day he thought to make a drag.  Not long after he got himself a cart.  There was no chance the neighbors were going to keep up now.

The Shop.  It was time to build a shop.  When he shared the plans for the build mom looked at the dimensions and noted that it was going to be bigger than the house when he was done. Sure enough.  He had 150’ more square feet than the house, not including the second story loft he included “for storage”.  

The space he made for himself was open to anyone in need. Advice, a tool or a place to work. The door was always open. He didn’t just lend his tools out.  He would give instructions on how to properly get the job done, advice on how he would approach the task then offer a hand. If you ran into a snag, he would be right there to help.  He taught his children (and their friends) everything they know when it comes to working with their hands. 

Along the years, he collected many treasures by browsing estate sales, trade papers, then Craigslist, and the many online apps that followed.  He passed on anything that wasn’t the price he thought it should be.  His early focus was HotWheels, then Tonka trucks and tractors. He began restoring some of the rusty ones. For his office, a Ford truck with the Madera Mechanical logo on the doors. For one of the grands, a Tonka dump truck with flames are just two examples. His collection covers the entire back wall of his shop.  He would pull down some of them when the kids came to visit and let them play while they were out there with him. 

On the off chance that he was sitting down relaxing and watching TV, it would be tuned to a gameshow, football or John Wayne.  He never passed up a chance to watch a John Wayne movie.  McLintock, Hatari and True Grit were his favorites in that order. 

The Discovery Channel was on top of his list as well.  Dirty Jobs, Deadliest Catch, anything Mike Rowe narrated of course. Myth Busters, Shark Week!  The one week a year, the TV tuned to and on, no matter what. He always wanted to swim with the Great White Sharks.

The rare time Roy did take actual vacation time off, you would find him thoroughly enjoying the lake.  Pulling the kids or grandkids on inner tubes behind his boat. Trying to launch the older ones of course. Trying to help the little one's fish and keep tabs on them all while they swam and swam. He was on hand when any of the big toys needed troubleshooting or repair not just in our camp those around us too. 

He was always there to lend a hand. Always

A mentor too many and like a father to some.

The industry as a whole has sustained a major loss with his passing. 

Those that survive him know how heavy this loss is.

Please leave a few words or a memory to share below.  His circle of people are far and wide.  Our family would like to hear from you all.  God Bless