Robert "Bo" Bates

Services for Robert Landon "Bo" Bates, 17, of Sabine, Texas, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 9, 2016 at First Baptist Church Liberty City with Brother Tim Coop Deacon Bill Necessary participant. Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. in Cathedral in the Pines in Tyler, Texas. Bo, as he was affectionately called, died on Sunday, January 3, 2016 in Sabine. Robert Landon Bates was born to Brian and Katy Bates in Longview, Texas on August 3, 1998. Robert garnered many nick-names due to his comedic personality: Big Bo Bates, Bo-jangles, etc. Bo was a kind, fun-loving, godly young man who was actively involved in his church, First Baptist Church Liberty City and participated in youth mission trips. Bo worked as a carhop at the Sonic. His compassion was such that he gave his first paycheck to assist a woman who was in danger of becoming homeless. Bo also had a tender heart toward those with special needs. He was a Junior at Sabine High School and was in the gifted and talented program as well as dual credit classes with Kilgore College. He initiated and was president of the Table Tennis Club at his school, loved to Yo-yo, and was a member of the FCA, the Spanish Club and the UIL Science Team. The young Mr. Bates was a versatile athlete who played football as a left tackle, ran track his freshman year but excelled in baseball as a pitcher, first baseman and homerun hitter. His accolades include: Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2013 for football, and Newcomer of the Year in 2014 for baseball, 1st Team Offensive Lineman, Sabine Cardinal Lineman MVP, All East Texas in baseball, 1st Team All District for football in 13/14. Bo is survived by his parents, Brian and Katy Bates of Sabine; sister, Marisa Katelynn Bates; grandparents, John and Judy Idrogo, Neill and Marilin Bates and Janie Bates; uncle, John Idrogo and wife, Lacey; Aunt, Jennifer and husband, Stephen McCurley; aunts, Stacey and Stephane Bates; cousins: Madeline, Caroline, Connor McCurley, Kate and J.J. Idrogo, Colton Bates, River Gordon, Madison Beam, Mallory Patton, Jaden Robirds, and Douglas Gilley. Bo"s absence is also deeply felt by his community, his church, his school and of course, those he called friends. He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents: Robert "Bo" and K.K. Sinclair, Virginia Bates, and Leo and Mavis Sullivan; Mr. and Mrs. Juan Idrogo, cousins, Brett Godwin, Landon Bates, and uncle, Dan Idrogo. Serving as pallbearers are Justin Lee, Ethan Puckett, Andrew Coop, Javan Smitherman, Brendan Parker, Caleb Shafer, River Gordon, Cameron Callaway, Colton Bates and Dustin Longhofer. Honorary pallbearers are J.J. Idrogo, Connor McCurley, Colby Gleason, Gage Gleason, Douglas Gilley, Jaden Robirds, the Select East Texas Red Sox baseball team, the Sabine Football team and the Sabine Baseball team. Visitation will be at Liberty City Baptist Church from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 8, 2016. The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to First Baptist Church Liberty City, the community of Liberty City and Sabine for their support, encouragement and prayer