Madge Dekle

Madge Bates Dekle went to meet her savior on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, at her home in Hixson, with her loving son, John Bates and family at her side.She was retired from the U.S. Government having worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Social Security Administration.Madge was born in Lead Hill, Ark., on Nov. 2, 1919. She was the last surviving child of James Edgar and Paretell Green Manley. Madge was very proud of her Cherokee Indian White River Band Heritage. She was the widow of John Bartley Bates and the mother of Pamela Bates Draudt, deceased. She will be sadly missed by her loving family; son and daughter-in-law, John L. and Kay Bates, of Hixson; Peter and Michael Draudt, of Pine, Colo.; Jim, Angie and Sydney Bates, of Redondo Beach, Calif.; Michelle Bates, of Hixson; Angela, Michael and Patrick Wade, of Chattanooga; John Paul Bates, of Hixson; Amy, Jon Paul, Ashley and Taylor Ray of Sale Creek, TN; Larry and Joyce Foster of Ringgold, Ga.; Ed, Marge, Connor and Chris Deverell, of Little Silver, N.J.; Myra Center, of Ringgold, Ga.; Chub and Donna Ensminger, of Hixson; John and Judy Kemp, of Hixson; Jim and Jane Ensminger, of Galion, Ohio; Tony and Donna Carter, of Dayton, Tenn.; her devoted companion "Buffy"; friends and family at Sale Creek (Tenn.) First Baptist Church and the many other people she touched throughout her life.Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, at Sale Creek First Baptist Church.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Sale Creek First Baptist Church, Building Fund, P.O. Box 502, Sale Creek, TN 37373.Special thanks to Christina, Kevin, Morgan, Connie, Teresa, Scott and staff at Avalon Hospice for their unselfish love and support.Send condolences at www.CovenantFuneral.com.Arrangements are by Covenant Funeral & Crematory, Crox family owned and operated.