Dianne V. Bates of Hermiston died on May 10, 2020 in Hermiston at the age of 99.
She was born on Sept. 4, 1920 in Providence, R.I. to Ralph and Hazel Sunderland.
Dianne was united in marriage to William (Bill) Bates in June 1942. They had a son, Johnny in 1943 and a daughter, Vicki in 1950 and built an amazing home together in the 1950s. Bill preceded her in death in 1957.
Dianne opened a pet shop and began a 35-year dog grooming career in 1958. She loved all animals, especially dogs, which she showed competitively in the 1950s. Dianne was forced to move after the 1994 California earthquake. She spent time living with John and Nancy in Newbury Park, where she volunteered at one of her favorite places, the Stagecoach Inn Museum Complex, as a docent.
Dianne moved to Oregon in 1998. She lived on her own on Sunland Avenue until 2014, when she broke her hip and had to move into assisted living. Dianne always had a dog or cat or both. She had a great talent for gardening. Wherever she lived, she transformed the yard to a thing of beauty.
She is survived by her son, John Bates and his wife Nancy Bates; daughter, Vicki Shuey and her husband Paul; grandchildren, Gary, Wendi, Jim, Amber and Trent; and great grandchildren, Karina, Zachary, Elyse, Erik, Tanner, Blake, Keegan and Kaitlin.
Dianne was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
A private family burial will be held in California at a later date.
Please share memories of Dianne with her family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
