Ernie is a son of Frances Sara Benoist and William Walton Bates. He is survived by a daughter, Linda Gossett of Miles Texas and a son, Larry Bates of Mertzon, Texas, along with five grandchildren and one sister, Mary Bates Gates.
He was an expert horseman, especially in calf roping, and was also a top notch horse shoer.
In 1985, the following was written about him in the The Quarter Horse Journal:
If ever there was a man who fit the description of a "true cowboy" it would have to be Ernie "Skinner" Bates. This easy going, soft spoken cowboy who seems to talk to horses in their own language, gets fantastic results with the horses he raises, trains and breaks, without a show of force.
The 65 year old, former San Angelo Texan, has called Arizona home for the past 27 years. Since 1958, "Skinner" has raised and trained over 500 head of horses. The majority of these have been Quarter Horses. He is a long standing member of the Arizona Quarter Horse Breeders Association. "They're the only kind of horse I need to get the job done," claims the avid roper.
The article goes on to tell of Ernie's dedication, not only to training, but the breeding, doctoring, shoeing, roping and all consuming love of horses and of the people associated in horse related activities. He also trained hundreds of youth, at no charge, and was still roping competitively at over 70 years old.
The article stated:
Skinner claims he's getting up in years.....but he still ropes....and when he does - it is on his buddy, Ellis Brooks, that he raised from a colt. Skinner was teased by ropers all over Arizona back in 1975 when he started roping on this stallion as a two-year-old. Skinner and "The Little Brown Jug", as he was then nicknamed, finished the 1975 season holding the Arizona State Calf Roping Championship. He was thereafter known as "Big Jug", and was as sound after 10 years of hard roping as he was in 1975! This dedicated horseman, who pampers his horses as if they were babies, is one of the dying breed known both as cowboy and gentleman. As candidate for Arizona Horseman of the Year, Skinner Bates gets our vote!
Ernie's entire life revolved around his quarter horses; he was still competition roping at age 70
- his ashes were spread where he spent most of his life! (His fav. ropin' place!)
His Memorial Service was arranged by Tolleson Funeral Home. The notice stated the services were held 9 November. It also included that he came from Texas to Arizona thirty five years ago, worked as a heavy equipment operator and also served as a member of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Posse. He lived his declining years in the home of his sister, Mary Bates and her husband, James Kenneth Gates, Jr.
He was an expert horseman, especially in calf roping, and was also a top notch horse shoer.
In 1985, the following was written about him in the The Quarter Horse Journal:
If ever there was a man who fit the description of a "true cowboy" it would have to be Ernie "Skinner" Bates. This easy going, soft spoken cowboy who seems to talk to horses in their own language, gets fantastic results with the horses he raises, trains and breaks, without a show of force.
The 65 year old, former San Angelo Texan, has called Arizona home for the past 27 years. Since 1958, "Skinner" has raised and trained over 500 head of horses. The majority of these have been Quarter Horses. He is a long standing member of the Arizona Quarter Horse Breeders Association. "They're the only kind of horse I need to get the job done," claims the avid roper.
The article goes on to tell of Ernie's dedication, not only to training, but the breeding, doctoring, shoeing, roping and all consuming love of horses and of the people associated in horse related activities. He also trained hundreds of youth, at no charge, and was still roping competitively at over 70 years old.
The article stated:
Skinner claims he's getting up in years.....but he still ropes....and when he does - it is on his buddy, Ellis Brooks, that he raised from a colt. Skinner was teased by ropers all over Arizona back in 1975 when he started roping on this stallion as a two-year-old. Skinner and "The Little Brown Jug", as he was then nicknamed, finished the 1975 season holding the Arizona State Calf Roping Championship. He was thereafter known as "Big Jug", and was as sound after 10 years of hard roping as he was in 1975! This dedicated horseman, who pampers his horses as if they were babies, is one of the dying breed known both as cowboy and gentleman. As candidate for Arizona Horseman of the Year, Skinner Bates gets our vote!
Ernie's entire life revolved around his quarter horses; he was still competition roping at age 70
- his ashes were spread where he spent most of his life! (His fav. ropin' place!)
His Memorial Service was arranged by Tolleson Funeral Home. The notice stated the services were held 9 November. It also included that he came from Texas to Arizona thirty five years ago, worked as a heavy equipment operator and also served as a member of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Posse. He lived his declining years in the home of his sister, Mary Bates and her husband, James Kenneth Gates, Jr.
Ernie is a son of Frances Sara Benoist and William Walton Bates. He is survived by a daughter, Linda Gossett of Miles Texas and a son, Larry Bates of Mertzon, Texas, along with five grandchildren and one sister, Mary Bates Gates.
He was an expert horseman, especially in calf roping, and was also a top notch horse shoer.
In 1985, the following was written about him in the The Quarter Horse Journal:
If ever there was a man who fit the description of a "true cowboy" it would have to be Ernie "Skinner" Bates. This easy going, soft spoken cowboy who seems to talk to horses in their own language, gets fantastic results with the horses he raises, trains and breaks, without a show of force.
The 65 year old, former San Angelo Texan, has called Arizona home for the past 27 years. Since 1958, "Skinner" has raised and trained over 500 head of horses. The majority of these have been Quarter Horses. He is a long standing member of the Arizona Quarter Horse Breeders Association. "They're the only kind of horse I need to get the job done," claims the avid roper.
The article goes on to tell of Ernie's dedication, not only to training, but the breeding, doctoring, shoeing, roping and all consuming love of horses and of the people associated in horse related activities. He also trained hundreds of youth, at no charge, and was still roping competitively at over 70 years old.
The article stated:
Skinner claims he's getting up in years.....but he still ropes....and when he does - it is on his buddy, Ellis Brooks, that he raised from a colt. Skinner was teased by ropers all over Arizona back in 1975 when he started roping on this stallion as a two-year-old. Skinner and "The Little Brown Jug", as he was then nicknamed, finished the 1975 season holding the Arizona State Calf Roping Championship. He was thereafter known as "Big Jug", and was as sound after 10 years of hard roping as he was in 1975! This dedicated horseman, who pampers his horses as if they were babies, is one of the dying breed known both as cowboy and gentleman. As candidate for Arizona Horseman of the Year, Skinner Bates gets our vote!
Ernie's entire life revolved around his quarter horses; he was still competition roping at age 70
- his ashes were spread where he spent most of his life! (His fav. ropin' place!)
His Memorial Service was arranged by Tolleson Funeral Home. The notice stated the services were held 9 November. It also included that he came from Texas to Arizona thirty five years ago, worked as a heavy equipment operator and also served as a member of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Posse. He lived his declining years in the home of his sister, Mary Bates and her husband, James Kenneth Gates, Jr.
He was an expert horseman, especially in calf roping, and was also a top notch horse shoer.
In 1985, the following was written about him in the The Quarter Horse Journal:
If ever there was a man who fit the description of a "true cowboy" it would have to be Ernie "Skinner" Bates. This easy going, soft spoken cowboy who seems to talk to horses in their own language, gets fantastic results with the horses he raises, trains and breaks, without a show of force.
The 65 year old, former San Angelo Texan, has called Arizona home for the past 27 years. Since 1958, "Skinner" has raised and trained over 500 head of horses. The majority of these have been Quarter Horses. He is a long standing member of the Arizona Quarter Horse Breeders Association. "They're the only kind of horse I need to get the job done," claims the avid roper.
The article goes on to tell of Ernie's dedication, not only to training, but the breeding, doctoring, shoeing, roping and all consuming love of horses and of the people associated in horse related activities. He also trained hundreds of youth, at no charge, and was still roping competitively at over 70 years old.
The article stated:
Skinner claims he's getting up in years.....but he still ropes....and when he does - it is on his buddy, Ellis Brooks, that he raised from a colt. Skinner was teased by ropers all over Arizona back in 1975 when he started roping on this stallion as a two-year-old. Skinner and "The Little Brown Jug", as he was then nicknamed, finished the 1975 season holding the Arizona State Calf Roping Championship. He was thereafter known as "Big Jug", and was as sound after 10 years of hard roping as he was in 1975! This dedicated horseman, who pampers his horses as if they were babies, is one of the dying breed known both as cowboy and gentleman. As candidate for Arizona Horseman of the Year, Skinner Bates gets our vote!
Ernie's entire life revolved around his quarter horses; he was still competition roping at age 70
- his ashes were spread where he spent most of his life! (His fav. ropin' place!)
His Memorial Service was arranged by Tolleson Funeral Home. The notice stated the services were held 9 November. It also included that he came from Texas to Arizona thirty five years ago, worked as a heavy equipment operator and also served as a member of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Posse. He lived his declining years in the home of his sister, Mary Bates and her husband, James Kenneth Gates, Jr.
Gravesite Details
Tolleson Funeral Home & Camino Del Sol Crematory, 11 Nov 1993
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