December 8 1913 July 14 2019 (age 105)
Elfreda Montgomery Oates was born December 8, 1913 to Tom Selah Montgomery and Edith Hancock Montgomery in Casscoe, Arkansas. She married Leroy Oates in 1931 and to this union were born five girls and ten boys. Elfreda was baptized and accepted Christ at an early age at Wofford Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Casscoe, Arkansas. She transitioned this life early Sunday morning, July 14, 2019. She began farming just after she and her husband, Leroy, were married. The two were married on Sept. 28, 1931. She was 18, and he was 23. Together, they had 15 children, 39 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren and 87 great-great grandchildren and 2 great, great, great grandchildren. Her husband and 2 sons and 3 daughters preceded her in death. Elfreda leaves to cherish her memory daughters, Linda Coleman, Elfreda Virjena Henry (Sylvester), sons, Kirks (Frankie), Cletus, Jack (Linda), Tom (Lena), Danny (Bonnie), Emmitt, Gale (Charlene) and Presley. In addition to being a busy wife, mother and farmer she also owned a grocery store called Oates Grocery for several years. Jokingly, she said she ran a hotel, daycare, restaurant, Laundromat and a taxicab service all from her house. Before her illness you would find her managing the family farm. She currently farmed 534.2 acres of cropland and 284.3 acres of woodland. She operated the family farm, which includes making all business decisions and limited farm machinery. At the age of 91, Oates applied for business assistance in the construction of a pit reservoir underground pipeline, a diesel powered pumping plant added height to a levy to hold more irrigation water and an eight-foot water controlled structure to regulate the flow of water in and out of the 65-acre reservoir. Once the project was completed she was very excited about the new irrigation system.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Elfreda Montgomery Oates December 8 1913 July 14 2019 (age 105).
Death notice for the town of: Stuttgart, state: Arkansas
Sending my condolences to the Oates family. Danny is a part of our Associa work family and we’re sadden by his loss. We are rejoicing that Elfreda gets to go home with the Lord!