Anna Ruth Bates, 80, of Etowah, died Thursday night, January 14, 2010 at Woods Memorial Hospital in Etowah. A daughter of the late L.J. and Hester Lillard Bates, she was born in Polk County and was a lifelong resident of McMinn County. She was retired from Morgan Manufacturing in Etowah. She was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church, but more recently attended North Etowah Baptist Church faithfully. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Katherine Green, Evelyn McConkey and Agnes Young. Survivors include three sisters, Inez Ballew, Betty Burris and Alice Hunt, all of Etowah; one brother, Edward Bates of Benton; one sister-in-law, and two brothers-in-law, Helen Bates of Benton, and Charles Hunt and Porter Green, both of Etowah; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Marie Newman and members of the Sarah Sunday School Class of North Etowah Baptist Church. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 16, 2010 in the South Chapel with Dr. Harold Curtis and Layspeaker Dennis Bordwine officiating. Burial will follow the service at McMinn Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 12 noon until 2 p.m. Saturday prior to the service.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church Food Bank, 923 Ohio Ave. Etowah, TN 37331.