Linville Bates: As the summer passes and gives away to winter winds of the north, the leaves turn crisp and brown and fall back to the earth, the flowers are hushed until spring time again and sleep until they are awakened by the warm rays of the summer sun. So it is with all that live, they too must go the way of the earth, we come into this life and we must go out, that is as true as the rising of the sun which we observe each day.

On February 12, 1916, Linville Bates came into the home of H. and Alta Bates. It was spring time with them and with him. The years passed away. He grew into manhood and entwined himself deeply into their hearts and before summer time even arrived into the comparison of his life, he fell asleep. Sixteen months ago, he went away and became a soldier in the army of his country. He was soon transferred to Panama and became an outstanding soldier in the Fourth Coast Artillery in the Canal Zone. He grew in favor with his comrades and with his Commanding officers and his commanding officer, Mr. D. R. Corum, says to his mother in a letter dated Aug. 27, 1940:

"Linville was liked by everybody in the battery and never caused anyone any trouble. His work was always satisfactory". And again Mr. Corum says in the announcement of his passing to his mother, "His going is shared by me and every member of his command who mourn the loss of a loyal soldier and comrade. Your son was held in high esteem by superior officers for a fine spirit, loyal cooperation and his never-failing good humor. By those whom he served with he will be remembered for his cheerfulness and the high spirit he always set of the qualities of a soldier. Your loss is also the loss of countless friends he made during his services to his country in whose behalf this inadequate expression of sympathy is addressed to you,"

His fellow soldiers and comrades in the Fourth Coast Artillery in a letter to his mother dated August 31 says, "Enclosed you will find money order for the sum of $110.50, which was donated by members of this battery and it is hoped that you will buy a small wreath, not to exceed the price of $20, for the funeral of Private Bates, saying that it was presented by his friends and comrades of Headquarters Battery Fourth Coast Artillery and accept the remainder of the money to use as you see fit, for I am sure Private Bates would want it that way.

Private Bates was well thought of by every member of the battery as well as the superior officers. It is deeply regrettful that we can't be there to share your grief and to help as we all would want to do."

(Signed) H. B. THOMAS, 1st. Sgt.

These letters show what a loyal soldier, friend and comrade Linville Bates was. In his passing he leaves his father and mother, four sisters, Audrea, Bonnie, Verne and Eva Dalna; one brother, James, besides his good grandmother and many other relatives and many, many friends who greatly regret and mourn his passing.

In his untimely departure from this life we feel that it was well with him, though thousands of miles from home in a strange country in the service of the stars and stripes, that a kind Providence smiled upon him. God always does everything right whether we understand or not. Some time before his passing away, his father Was warned. One night in a dream he thought he and Linville went out to gear up a team as they had so many times done. They spoke a few words, his father threw the britching over to him on the other side, but Linville was gone.

How true and how wonderful the good Lord is to let us know about these things. Since his passing and the family received the news of his untimely departure, one night in a dream, Linville came to his father and said, "Don't worry about me for the Lord will take care of me." That did not satisify the father. He prayed for more evidence that his son was alright and again he dreamed that his son and someone with him came to him and when they drew near he recognized it to be Jesus who said, "It was needful for him to go away, but you can come to me later."

Today we hope that Linville Bates is in the services of a greater country than this, not a soldier for the stars and strips but a soldier in that land beyond the mystic river. May this be a reminder to his family to get ready when the final summons comes for them as it came for their brother and son.

There is no death! The stars go down
To rise upon some fairer shore,
And bright in heaven's jeweled crown
They will shine forevermore.
There is no death! The dust we tread
Shall change beneath the summer showers,
To golden grain or mellow fruit,
Or rainbow tinted flowers.
They leave us but to come again,
With joy we welcome them the same,
And ever near us, though unseen
The dear immortal spirits tread,
For all the boundless universe is life--
Our friends, they are not dead.

At the time of his passing Linville Bates was stationed at Canal Zone, Panama. He was brought back to his home by the Government in a beautiful casket wrapped in the stars and stripes and on Tuesday of this week final funeral services were held at his home in the presence of hundreds of sorrowing friends by Elders J. M. Blair and G. Bennett Adams, after which he was laid to rest in the old Blair burying ground to await the resurrection morn.