Sharing our Links to the Past
by Wally and Frances Gray

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Lucy Turley (Mrs. Laren Lionel Bates) (1888-1983)

The Theodore Turley Family Book, pp. 113-114

Lucy Turley, third daughter of Theodore Wilford and Mary Agnes  Flake Turley, was born in Snowflake, Arizona, 8:20 p.m. June 30, 1888, in a one room log house.  She was blessed August 2, 1883, by President Jesse M. Smith and baptized July 3, 1896 by William J. Flake in Flake Reservoir at Grandpa's Ranch. Osmer D. Flake confirmed her the same day. 

She worked hard as a child helping to weave carpets, tending babies, washing dishes, and washing clothes on a washboard.  Her schooling was all in Snowflake where she began September 1894, graduated from grammar school the spring of 1904, and from Snowflake Stake Academy April, 1906.  When the railroad was built from Williams to the Grand Canyon her father was in charge of construction, so he took his family to camp for the summer.  It did not rain, so water supply became low, and many had Mountain Fever from the polly-wog water.  Lucy had it and lost all her hair, but it came back in curly.  She did not like to ride horses but her father insisted that she ride every day when they were living on the Homestead in Aripine.  The summer after she graduated from Snowflake Academy she began clerking in Uncle Jim Flake's General Store at $20.00 a month, paying her own board and room.  She taught Sunday School and Primary classes while a young girl.

Lucy's mother died when she was 21.  Her first train ride was at that same age when she went to Salt Lake City and was married in the temple to Laron Lionel Bates October 4, 1911. They went to live at the Prescott Experiment Station seven miles north of Prescott, Arizona.  This farm was under the direction of the University of Arizona, and they had many successful crops while there.  They received a salary of $60.00 per month.  Their nearest neighbor was one and a half miles away.  Karl Theodore, Ellen Lucille and Myrtle were born there.  In 1917 the Bates moved to a farm owned by an eastern company and stayed there eight years.  Dorothy Alice was born there.  While there, they drove ten miles to Chino Valley for Sunday School and Church; seven miles to Prescott for Primary and Relief Society; and three miles to Pleasant Valley to school.  The family moved to Chino on March 1, 1926, as Laron had been put in as branch president. Their fifth child, Kathryn Eleanor, was born there.  Lucy cooked for the school children, giving them a hot lunch in her home. She later was hired as a cook over to the school when the school lunch program began. There she cooked twenty years, often canning her own supply of fruit for the school so their lunches could be cheaper.  Lucy has held a number of positions in the Chino Branch: Primary President; YWMIA President; 2nd Counselor, Theology teacher, Work Day Director and visiting teacher in Relief Society; Sunday School Secretary and teacher of the adult class.  She was also a 4-H leader in the community.  Lucy has spent much of her time quilting and has made quilts for all her children and grandchildren and many more.  Many of her relatives call her "Lute."

Laron died Nov. 28, 1941 and Lucy stayed in Chino Valley. Their son Theodore went to the Central States on a mission and they have had twelve grandchildren serve missions, Lucy has five children, thirty grandchildren, and 49 great grandchildren (March 1977).

Children of Lucy Turley and Laron Lionel Bates:

Karl Theodore Bates, born July 11, 1912

Ellen Lucille Bates Bunker, born January 10, 1915

Myrtle Bates Billingsley, born April 9, 1917

Dorothy Alice Bates Scott, born August 2, 1921

[Death date from AF, IGI, PRF]