Joetta Bates, 89 of Montezuma, passed away Thursday, April 25, 2024 at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at the Community Hope Church in Montezuma. Burial will be held in the Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma. Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm Monday, April 29, 2024 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma with the family present to greet friends and relatives from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Montezuma Fire Department or the Montezuma United Methodist Church. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.

Joetta Joy Watts, daughter of Warren and Mae (Strong) Watts, was born August 8, 1934, in Montezuma. She attended country school southeast of Montezuma and graduated from Montezuma High School in 1951. On May 9, 1953, Joetta was united in marriage to John Bates at the Montezuma Christian Church Parsonage. To this union, two children were born, Joni and Curtis. Joetta helped John on their farm west of Deep River, doing whatever was needed. She gardened, canned, and nursed numerous animals back to life on the front porch. She was an early employee at Brownells, where she worked for 34 years until her retirement in 1997. Joetta was a friend to many. Her door was always open to visitors, coffee was always on, and cookies were always fresh from the oven. Everyone always savored Joetta's baking. She hosted weekly family dinners and get-togethers, where she got out of doing dishes by rocking and singing to her youngest grandchild, Derek, and great-grandchildren. Her heart and her candy dishes were always full.

Her memory will be treasured by her daughter, Joni Doll of Nixa, MO, and friend Denny of Urbandale; her son Curtis (Dotty) Bates of Deep River; her four grandchildren, Camie (James) Coffer of Ozark, MO, Dustin (Erienne) Doll of Montezuma, Taren (Austin) Young of Montezuma, and Derek (Simone) Bates of Deep River; her 11 great-grandchildren, Carter, Lincoln, Jayden, Landry, Charley, Beau, Jaxon, Gracie, Ty, Liam, and Liesl; her siblings Phyllis (the late Edwin) Mann of Carlisle and Lyle Watts of Des Moines; her sister-in-law Jacque Johnson of Montezuma; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Joetta was preceded in death by her parents Warren and Mae Watts; her husband John Bates; her siblings Keith (Bernice) Watts and Dennis Watts; her brothers-in-law Eugene, Ronald (Evelyn), Gerald (Norma Jean, Eulalia), Ned (Jan), Donald (Elaine), Tom (Helen), Paul (Linda), and Merle (Jean); her sisters-in-law Agnes (Joe) Hourihan, Margaret (Raymond) Tarvin, Dorothy Bates, Marlene Bates, Verla (Marvin) Tish, and Charlene Bates.