William Melvin Bates, 67, passed away in Fort Worth on May 26, 2022. Memorial Services will be held at 10 a.m. on June 11 at the McMillan-Satterwhite Funeral Home Chapel.

William was born on Aug. 3, 1954, in Groom to the late Weldon Monroe Bates and Winefred Louise Price Bates. After graduating college with a Bachelor’s in Physical Education in 1976, Bill worked in the oil field until 1984 where he began his true calling as a coach and teacher. He began his journey of changing and inspiring lives at Pflugerville Highschool as a history teacher and coach of baseball, football, track and field and basketball. After Leaving Pflugerville in 1989, Bill started a Landscaping company with his brother Larry Bates which thrived until 1994 when he decided that he could not stay away from his destiny any longer. He took a head baseball coaching job at McCallum Highschool in Austin. Throughout his coaching career Bill spent years throughout different programs and met many people he still considers friends today. He was a coach and teacher at Comfort, Ingram, Gorman and Hillsboro Highschool. In 2018 Bill retired from coaching at Hillsboro Highschool. He loved to teach and coach the young men and women that came through his programs and cherished every relationship he made. He was known for being kind, gentle, funny, easy going, stern when needed, motivating, loving, and understanding. Bill Loved to hunt, camp, travel, ski, be on the lake and most of all spend time with his family. He was a man of few words but when he spoke his words were bold and understood. He was a great father, friend, coach and brother and will be greatly missed from all. Rest in peace dad, we all love and will greatly miss you.

William is survived by four sons: Brandon Bates and wife Breanna of San Antonio, Sean Bates and wife Nicki of Houston, Josh Bates of San Antonio, and Deylamar Brooks of Graham. Three grandchildren; Anderson Bates, Colt Bates, and Bryleigh Bates, and one sister, Tammy Brooks of Graham.

He was preceded in death by his parents, by a brother, Larry Bates, and by a sister, Sue Bates.