Reflections of Life

 Mrs. Ida Blanch Bates Nance was born on October 30, 1941, to the late Edward Bates and the late Dallas Cobb Bates in Colbert County, Alabama. She was the second of fourteen children. On Tuesday, June 2, 2026, she departed this earthly life, at her residence surrounded by family. Ida accepted Christ at an early age where she attended Bethel Colbert M. B. Church. She was a faithful member until her passing. Ida attended Leighton Training School. Afterwards, she worked various jobs throughout her life, but the most important one was being the mother of eight children. On August 15, 1959, Ida married the love of her life, Edward Nance, and to that union, eight children were born. Ida was preceded in death by her two sisters, Barbara Bates Ingram and Joyce (Percy) Eggleston; three brothers, Robert L. Bates, John Bates, and Clarence Bates, Sr.; one brother in-law, Glenn Biddix; two granddaughters, Sharika Nicole Nance and Rebi Hogan; one great-granddaughter, Hariyah Nance; and one great-grandson, Camaron Edward Nance. She leaves to cherish her memories: her five sons, Charles Nance of Fulda, Germany, Tony (Lisa) Nance of Nampa, ID, Irwin Nance and Robin Nance of Sheffield, AL, and Michael (Courtney) Nance of Tuscumbia, AL; three daughters, Mary Dean Nance of Sheffield, AL, Jacqueline (William) Skipper of Sheffield, AL, and Kimberly Nance of Florence, AL; seven sisters, Gladys (McCoy) Jackson of Leighton, AL, Edna Hamilton of Muscle Shoals, AL, Susie (Bill) Walker of Lansing, MI, Thelma (Mike) Swift of Traverse City, MI, Pauline (Roosevelt) Beasley of Lansing, MI, Hazel Horton and Carolyn Bates of Leighton, AL; one brother, James W. Bates of Berlin, Germany; one brother-in-law, Fabian (Debbie) Nance of Town Creek, AL; fourteen grandchildren and twenty-six great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other loving relatives and friends.