James Roy Jim Bates - SAVANNAH - James Roy Jim Bates, 72, died June 8, 2012 at his residence. He was born in Ironton, Ohio, son of James Edgar and Dorothy Gibson Bates. Pee-Paw lived most of his life in Lakeland, Florida before retiring to Savannah. He was a passionate and humble man that enjoyed his career as a welder and business owner. Pee-Paw was extremely loving and proud of his three children that he reared as a single father. Pee-Paw relished spending all of his time with his grandchildren and was a true family man. Pee-Paw's infectious sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters, Betty Myers, Diana Thomas and brother, Michael Bates. Surviving are his daughter, Myra Pope (Charles Porsga), sons, Jimmy and Missy Bates, Billy and Beth Bates; sisters, Judy Prindle, Deborah Duba, Kay Smith; grandchildren, Shaunda and Ray Clark, Bobby Lee, Andrea and Andrew McKeever, Zachary Bates, Marissa Bates, Chandler Bates, Connor Bates; great grandchildren, Austin Day, Raymond-Jack Clark and Skylar Lee. Funeral: 1:00 p.m., Thursday, June 14, 2012 in the Islands Chapel of Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors. The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. Burial: Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. Please sign our online guestbook at www.foxandweeks.com Savannah Morning News June 13, 2012 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries.