William Ray Bates Jr.

February 12, 1963 - April 15, 2022

William “Rocky” Ray Bates Jr. 59, gained his wings Friday, April 15, 2022, in the comfort of his home. He was a lifelong resident of Kannapolis. A funeral service is scheduled for 7:00 pm Friday, April 22, 2022, at Reckless Love Worship Center, 436 Lockhart Road, Kannapolis, NC 28083. The family will receive friends from 6 to 6:45 pm Friday at Reckless Love Worship Center prior to the service. Mr. Bates was born February 12, 1963 in Cabarrus County. Rocky was the son of Bill and Ann Bates of Kannapolis and graduated from A.L. Brown High School. Rocky spent his life as a Master Brick Mason and was the owner of Bates Masonry for 20 plus years. He was a master of his trade and took extreme pride in his work and was able to extend his knowledge to future masons. Anyone who knew him knew that he loved the outdoors and at any given chance was out on his John Deere lawnmower. If you visited Rocky, he would greet you from the yard, and sit and talk for hours. Rocky had developed a love for rocks and he and his granddaughter, who was his pride and joy, traded them every time they saw each other. His passion and his love for his family was indescribable and he never limited family as being blood-related. If you got the chance to know him, you were family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by son, Kegan Bates. Those left to cherish the memory of Rocky are his daughter, Kalei Bates (Chris McMickle) of Kannapolis; granddaughter; Willow Grace McMickle of Kannapolis; sister, Debbie Holzendorf (Bill) of Salisbury; his lifelong friend, Caren Bates; many nieces and nephews; along with great-nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Lady's Funeral Home, 268 N. Cannon Boulevard, Kannapolis, NC 28081 to assist the family with funeral expenses.