Carla Marie Bates

Our beloved Carla was born on January 11th 1958 to our Dear mother, Joanne Johnson Rollins and honorary father, Carl Leffall in Oakland, California. For the first 11 years of her life, she lived in Oakland with her six siblings. She enjoyed family gatherings, hopscotch and tether ball as well as family fishing trips to Lake Berryessa with her grandparents, aunt and uncle's cousins and siblings on weekends. Carla enjoyed barbecues , fish fry's and good eating at our dear grandmother's house.

Carla is also known for being the best dancer in the family. She often entered dance contest and won 1st place and cash prizes.

Carla attended Ockley Green and King elementary schools, as well as Jefferson High School where she participatedin Track and field activities.

As an adult Carla worked for Crown Zellerbach paper company in Portland Oregon. She unfortunately was seriously injured on the job and after several years of recovery. She went on to work for Tyco Toy company, where she enjoyed her job for many years.

Carla also moved to Hawaii with friends, where she enjoyed her employment, as a home healthcare provider for the elderly. However missing her family, she moved back to Oregon, where she met and married her husband David Bates. After Carla and David got married, they moved to Roseburg and Grants Pass Oregon as well as Tulare, California, where she loved the outdoors even more.

Although Carla had no children of her own, she was an aunt over twenty plus nephews and nieces as well as a plethora of great nieces and nephews.

She and David would host her nephews and nieces during the summer. When she lived in Grants Pass and Roseburg, showing them how to fish, camp, kayak and hike. Carla was also a good cook and enjoyed feeding friends and family.

Later in her life after the death of her husband David (1999) she met her longtime boyfriend Ted Hampton. They enjoyed short road trips, family gatherings as well as the beach on the Oregon Coast, lake trips and vineyards.

Around 2020, Carla started suffering from the onset symptoms of dementia.

However she still remembered her family members and Ted.

Unfortunately, during this time, Carla also lost her partner Ted in 2022. Shortly thereafter her health started to decline as the dementia had worsened.

Carla lost her battle on January 28th, 2026 due to Pneumonia.

Carla was proceeded in death by her husband David Bates as well as her mother Joann Rollins, father Carl Leffall, sister Shirley Shavers.

Carla is survived by siblings Arthur Shavers (Cynthia) Diane Luster (Woodrow), Harold Ricky Shavers(Andrea) Debbie Leffall, Tina Bronson (David) and Olivette Jackson (Steffon).

As we say goodbye to Carla Marie, let us celebrate the life she lived, her smile, her laughter and her love of family.

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight I have finished my course and I have kept the faith

Pallbearers: Arthur Shavers Jr., Jherelle Shavers, Brandon Broadnax, Darnell Broadnax, Noah Vinzant, Spencer Shavers

Honorary Pallbearers: Arthur Shavers Sr., Ricky Shavers, Steffon Jackson, Jeffrey McGee Jr. Randy Taylor, Alvin Welch.

Acknowledgements & Thanks: Highrise Home Care Adult Family Home Hampton Family, Elder Care (PACE) and Pastor Alice Faye Warren: Maranatha Church