Opal L. Easterling Bates

Opal L. Easterling Bates, 85, of Greystone Healthcare Center, formally 1374 Centenary Rd., Kingsport, departed this life after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease and recently cancer, on Saturday night, April 23, 2011.

Born in Dungannon, VA, Opal resided in Kingsport most of her life. She graduated Valedictorian from Mountain Mission, Grundy, VA, magna cum laude from Whitney Business College, Kingsport, and in addition completed two years of college by correspondence. She was a lab technician dying and testing at Eastman Chemical Company where she retired after working there more than 30 years. While living in Virginia, Opal became a member of Stoney Creek Baptist Church and after moving to Kingsport, she attended Belvue Christian Church and later Colonial Heights Christian Church. Opal's love for animals, especially French poodles and Arabian horses, gave her much pleasure. After her retirement, she was very active in the breeding, raising, and showing of Arabian horses. She was the proud owner of the first Egyptian Arabian horse in East TN, Ashan Kabar, who was a legend in his own time. Being a self-taught Arabian horse genealogist enabled her to trace several Arab pedigrees back to the desert. She founded the Adel Nufuse Arabian Horse Club; was a member of the Arabian Horse Registry of America, National Arabian Horse Association, the Pyramid Society, The International Arabian Horse Association, Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Sheriff's Association, and the American Kennel Club.

Opal L. Easterling Bates was preceded in death by her father Joe Easterling; mother and stepfather, Dora and Loyd Anderson; sisters June Easterling Pruett, Mae Easterling; stepsister Jean Nickels; husbands, Staff Sgt. Geo. Robert Calloway, S.B. Sam Pardue, Jr., Clyde Bates; beloved nephew Jim Pruett; and beloved great-nephew James Pruett, Jr.

Survivors include her daughter Brenda C. Calloway; special aunt Lois Fields and husband, Kelly deceased; special uncle Joe Frazier and wife, Ruth deceased; sisters-in-law, Marjorie Calloway and husband, Howard deceased, Viola Calloway and husband, Nathan deceased, Charlotte Calloway Dingus, Betty Pardue Calloway; brother-in-law Joel and wife, Rhea; beloved nephew Nick Nickels and wife, Pat; great-niece Heather Pruett Mann; beloved lifelong friend Gay Horne; and several other nieces, nephews, cousins, special friends and neighbors.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday at 2 pm at the funeral home with Dr. Ed Clevenger officiating. A eulogy will be given by her daughter, Brenda C. Calloway. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Joel Calloway, Tommy Calloway, Nick Nickels, Robert Calloway, Dorse Frazier and T.J. Powell. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Frazier, Randall Frazier, Dr. Galen Smith, Larry Mullins, Mike Howell, and Ted Hammonds.

The family expresses their appreciation to the employees and staff of Greystone Healthcare Center for the excellent care and kindness shown to Opal, and to her daughter during her lengthy illness at the facility. Also the family would like to thank Smokey Mountain Hospice for their assistance with her care.