James “Jim” Bates, age 81, of Reidland, passed away at 4:27 pm on Sunday, January 19, 2014 at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah.

Mr. Bates was a retired pipefitter for VMV Railroad. He was a former President of the Pipefitters Union Local #184 . He was a former member of the Southside Kiwanis Club, Reidland Lions Club, and the Reidland-Farley Fire Department. He was also a Master Mason and a member of the Masonic Lodge #127. He served his country during the Korean Conflict as a member of the U.S. Navy.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy (Salyer) Bates of Reidland; sons, Charles Bates of Huntsville, AL and Kenneth Bates of Orlando, FL; sisters, Linda Harris of Pensacola, FL, and Patricia Wren of Birmingham, AL; brother, Gerald Bates of California; four grandsons and two great grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Irene (Bowman) Bates; one sister and two brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at the Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah with Rev. Russell Fraizer officiating. Friends may call after 11:00 am on Thursday at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the charity of one’s choice.