Hazel (Hertz) Bates

Hazel Bates, 77, passed away October 15, 2017 at home in the company of her husband and friends. She was born March 5, 1940, in Haines, Alaska to Henry and Pauline Hertz. During Hazel’s early years, she moved with her family to Lewistown, Montana, then Mullan, Idaho. When she was nine years old, the family moved to the farm at New Plymouth, Idaho where she later graduated from New Plymouth High School in 1958. She attended Nampa Business College and graduated with a degree. 

In the early years, Hazel worked with a Veterinarian in New Plymouth and as a bookkeeper for Stunz Lumber in New Plymouth. Over a span of 40 years, she worked for Ray Brogan and Pioneer Enterprises, retiring last year. Hazel volunteered as the Payette County Rodeo Secretary for many years and she was a charter member and an EMT for the New Plymouth Quick Response Unit.  

Hazel loved horses. She served as a past Payette County Rodeo Queen. She rode in the Possiette Equestrian Drill Team and competed in several rodeo events. Over the years she spent much of her time breeding, training, and racing horses, both quarter horses and thoroughbreds, at all the major race tracks in the Pacific Northwest. She also enjoyed showing her horses and spending time trail riding with her circle of friends.

 She gained an incredible knowledge of horses and was happy to share that with her family, friends, and most importantly, her 4-H horse club members that she treated as if they were her own children. She personally donated time, talent and financial support to her ‘4-H family’ as well as to the Payette County Fair Horse barns.

In 2003, Hazel married the love of her life, Farrel ‘Sonny’ Bates. Together they continued to raise horses, and expanded their operations into raising registered Shorthorns. They farmed, traveled, danced, laughed, loved, and made special memories.  

She is survived by her husband, Sonny, her older sister, Sylvia Hertz, Lodi, California, her stepchildren, Tim Bates and his wife Jeanie, Weiser; Paula Needham, and her husband Don, Boise; Scott Bates and his wife Susan, Fruitland; and Jeannette Bates, Ontario, and their children and grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, former husband Bob Evans, and former husband Ivan Getman.

A celebration of life will be held on November 4th, 2017, 11 am (with a dinner following) at the West Valley Free Methodist Church, 100 East First Street, Fruitland, Idaho. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Payette County Fair 4-H Horse program or the New Plymouth Quick Response Unit.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again…

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