Donny Ray Bates, age 74, of Iowa Park, Texas passed away Wednesday, December 16, 2020, in Wichita Falls.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 19, 2020, at Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City with Allen Bates, Pastor of Victory Church in Decatur, officiating.  Interment will follow in the Archer City Cemetery under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, December 18, 2020, at Aulds Funeral Home.

Donny was born January 10, 1946 in Archer City, Texas to the late Robert Lee Bates and Orene Owen Bates.  He started school in Holliday.

Donny married the love of his life, Brenda Elledge on May 24, 1966 in Archer City.

In 1978, he became the co-owner of Bates Concrete and Construction and operated the business for twenty-five years.

Donny loved playing music, playing jokes and was always the life of the party.  He had a big heart and if someone needed something, he always made it happen.  He was an avid sports fan especially when it came to his kids and grandkids playing.  His grandchildren were the light of his life.

Donny was a member of Highland Heights Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Brenda Bates of Iowa Park; daughter, Darla Rae Chandler and husband, Gary or Iowa Park; son, Donny Bates, Jr. and wife, Laura of Crowley; two brothers, Bobby Bates and wife, Sandie of Holliday, and Freddy Bates and wife, Barbara of Wichita Falls; three sisters, Barbara Cordova of Henrietta, Debra Skinner of Burkburnett and Brenda O'Niell of Henrietta; four grandchildren, Lindsay (his # 1 granddaughter), Dillon, Colton and Gracie; three great-grandchildren, Easton, Avery and Owen; and fourteen nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his twin brother, Danny Lee; sisters, Linda and Martha; and three nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorials to the Archer City Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 198, Archer City, Texas 76351.