Graveside funeral service for Gabriele B. "Gabby" Bates will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 8, 2019 at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, with Chaplain Leonard Reimer, Promise Care Hospice, officiating.

Arrangements are under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Gabriele B. "Gabby" Bates, age 58, Lawton, died Monday, March 4, 2019 at her residence.  She was born December 1, 1960 in Schweinfurt, Germany to Franz and Edith Schmitt.  She grew up in Germany where she attended school.  She married Eddie D. Bates on May 17, 1996 in Vail, Denmark.

Gabby was primarily a homemaker but had worked at Edna Hennessee's Cosmetic Specialty Lab for five years and for CATO a couple of years.  She enjoyed working puzzles.

She is survived by her husband, Eddie Bates, of the home; her daughter, Melisa C. Bates, Lawton; her son, Marco Hern, Schweinfurt, Germany; two brothers, Thomas and Stefan; and her sister, Birget.

Her parents preceded her in death.

The family is requesting memorial donations for education scholarships be made in Gabby's name to the Cameron Foundation, 2800 W. Gore Blvd., Lawton, Oklahoma 73505.