Iris Bates Ioder

iris ioder
Iris Bates Ioder, age 93, El Paso, Illinois and formerly of Bradford died 11:00 a.m. Sunday, June 18, 2017 at the Apostolic Christian Home in Eureka, Illinois. She was born January 3, 1924 to John and Eva (Robson) Bates in Osceola, Illinois. She married Orville Briggs Ioder on May 30, 1948. He died February 10, 2005. She also was preceded in death by a brother, Charles E. Bates of Arvada, Colorado and a daughter-in-law Kathy of Lexington. Surviving are two sons, Randall of Lexington, Kentucky and Malcolm of El Paso, Illinois; one granddaughter, Rachel (Robert) Ray and one grandson, Randall Jr. all of Lexington, KY. Iris graduated from Toulon High School and attended Illinois State, Normal University. She earned her associate degree from Blackhawk East Junior College in Kewanee. She was a teacher, a Sunday school teacher, a Cub Scout Den Mother and an advisor for the Bradford chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi National Sorority. She also served on the Board of Education of the Bradford Community School District. She had been a president of the Bradford Women''s League, as well as president of the Bradford United Methodist Women and a certified lay speaker for the United Methodist Church. She was very much interested in American history and was a well known vocalist and public speaker. A memorial service will be held 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2017 at the Grant–Johnson Funeral Home, Bradford, Illinois. Burial will be in Bradford Cemetery, Bradford, Illinois at a later date. Visitation will be 6:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, June 23, 2017 at the Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Bradford. Memorials may be directed to Friends of Strays in Princeton, Illinois. Online condolences may be sent to www.grant-johnsonfh.com.

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  1. My sympathy to Randy and Malcolm. Aunt Iris was a great inspiration to me. I think of her often.

  2. I’m so sorry for your loss. I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Iris several years ago. She was a special lady.

  3. My sincere condolences to Iris’ family. She was, indeed, a very special lady with many talents and great fortitude.

  4. Iris was my great aunt, and she was a very kind person. I have lovely memories of being a small girl and visiting her and her husband’s farm in Bradford, Illinois. I only ever got to see her a handful of times in my life, but she always felt very much like family due to her kindness and generous spirit. I feel saddened to realize that with her passing, a generation of the Bates family is now gone. Rest in Peace, Aunt Iris.


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