Marblehead…..

Muriel (Constantine) Bates age 90, loving and devoted wife of Captain Raymond H. Bates, USN, Ret. died peacefully at home surrounded by her family early Friday morning, April 19, 2013.

Born in Salem the daughter of the late Laurence and Katherine L. (Donovan) Constantine, she attended Salem schools. Summers were spent in Marblehead in the 20's and 30's at Naugus Head and on Bakers Island with her late Aunt Bess. Following her graduation from Salem High School in 1940, Mrs. Bates received her teaching degree from Salem Teacher's College (now Salem State University) in 1944. Mrs. Bates began her teaching career at the John Brown Elementary School in Manchester-by-the-Sea. A few years later she was swept off her feet by her husband, and they married in 1946. They have celebrated 67 years of marriage. During her husband's naval career, they traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and lived as a Navy family in England, France, and eastern seacoast states.

Mrs. Bates was proud of her ancestry, and cherished her father and mother-in-law, the late Congressman, George J. Bates and Nora (Jennings) Bates. She was a member of the General Israel Putnam Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Cameo Society (DAR), the Delta Kappa Gamma (Epsilon Chapter), the Red Hats, and a past member of the Essex County Women's Republican Party.

She is survived by her children, Cyndy and husband Gary Morrissette of Fremont, NH, Marilyn and husband Ken Gustavson of Plaistow, NH, Raymond H. Jr. and wife Eileen Bates of Marblehead.

She has been a loving grandmother of Richard Wilcock, Christopher Wilcock and wife Catie, Jenna Gustavson, Devin Bates , Malcolm Bates, and the late R. Connor Bates; and great grandmother of Dariana, Sicario, Yadiel, Isabella Wilcock, and the late Ricardo Wilcock. She was a wonderful aunt to nephews, Laurence and wife Erin Sabean, Harold Sabean; nieces, Katherine and husband Glenn Carter, Melissa Sabean and husband Robert Rice, and Susan and husband Robert Cashman.

She was the sister of the late Rosamond A. Rodden and the late Anne L. Sabean; the sister-in-law of Carolyn Stanton, Francis and wife Dorothy Bates, the late Congressman William H. Bates, the late George Bates, the late Mary Sawtelle, the late Catherine Ginty, and the late Margaret Bates. She is also survived by several other nephews and nieces.

Her funeral will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 9:15 AM from the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St, Salem, to be followed by a funeral Mass at 10:00 AM in St James Church, 156 Federal St, Salem. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the funeral home. Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the General Israel Putnam Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Judge Samuel Holten House, 171 Holten St, Danvers, MA 01923.
For online guest book or additional information please call 781 631 8885 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.