LA MOILLE - Michael James Bates, 57, of LaMoille passed away peacefully at home on May 16, 2021 after a year-long illness.

Arrangements are being handled by Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota; see their website for the Zoom link for celebration of life information.

Michael was born Nov. 26, 1963 in Camden, N.J. to Gilbert J. and Janet (Nicholas) Bates.

Survivors include his wife, Greta; two children, Christopher Scanlon and Leslie (Jacob) Weber and a grandson, Caleb, all of Tidewater, Va.; two brothers, James (Karen) of Los Angeles, Calif. and Gilbert W. of Lindenwold, N.J.; and one niece, Aimee of Roanoke, Va.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Michael was a graduate of Overbrook High School in Pine Hill, N.J., Old Dominion University and Mississippi State University. In a career of 30 years, he taught middle school and high school science at Blair Middle School and Lake Taylor, B.T. Washington, and Maury High Schools in Norfolk, Va. After moving to Illinois in 2008, he taught at Earlville High School; Woodruff High School, Peoria; Harlem High School, Machesney Park; Prophetstown High School; Freeport High School; LaMoille High School; Sherrard High School; and RAS and Jefferson High Schools, Rockford. He also taught at Sauk Valley Community College and Illinois Valley Community College.

Memorials may be directed to Nightengales, 708 Jefferson St., Mendota, IL 61342 or Eternal Reefs, P.O. Box 3811, Sarasota, FL 34230-3811. Online condolences may be left at www.merrittfh.com.