Jackie Moore Bates

Jackie Bates of Knoxville, Tennessee, age 74, passed away on Sunday, July 5, 2026, surrounded by her cherished loved ones. Born and raised in West Virginia, she was a proud Appalachian woman who possessed a strong spirit and a complex, colorful journey through life. She (and the rest of our family) is beyond proud of our Appalachian roots and the stories that were passed down.

Like the mountains she came from, she was a woman of strong passions and distinct seasons. Her path was not always easy, but beneath the complexities of her years was a woman who ultimately loved deeply. She found her true footing as her family's absolute biggest cheerleader, offering a fierce, loyal love to those closest to her. When she loved you, you knew it and you cherished it. Her love was unconditional, faithful, and unwavering.

Her faith was incredibly important to her, and she walked a deeply personal path with God. It is one of the things that keeps her family comforted in knowing she is with Him and no longer hurting. Her generous heart shone through clearly to the world around her; she was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back, making her a deeply loved and cherished friend to many around her.

Before a stroke in 2012 shifted her path, she was an exceptionally gifted artist with a needle and thread. As an avid sewer, crafter, and quilter, she created beautiful pieces that showcased her patience, creativity, and eye for beauty. She reflected on creating much like life; beauty was in the time, and time was a gift. Also, music- she played the piano beautifully. There are so many beautiful and jovial memories she gifted her children by listening to her play. Though she could no longer create tangible items or music in her later years, the beautiful things she did and memories she created remain a testament to her talent and are cherished belongings of our family. She often loved to teach others to do it, teaching us that time together is invaluable and the biggest gift of all.

She is survived by her daughters, (Margaret) Maggie Tankersley and (Elizabeth) Beth Hayes, with whom she shared a deep, fiercely loyal, and uniquely unbreakable bond. She is also survived by the grandchildren who brought light and the most precious love to her life, Caitlin Beets, Hudson Beets, Ashlynn Beets, Hannah Tankersley, and Kody Hayes. Also, her son-in-law Brian Hayes, her nieces Jenny Crabtree, Joanna Barbour, and all the grown loves behind them, as well as a large extended family.

She leaves behind a family that loved her fiercely, unconditionally, and through all of life's seasons and she will be so missed ... more than tongue can tell or heart can hold.

You are encouraged to share a memory of Jackie and/or your personal condolences with her family by visiting her memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral & Cremation Service of Oak Ridge, TN, is honored to assist the family with these arrangements.