Lea Ann Creager Bates

Lea Ann Creager Bates, our beloved Mother, Sister, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, passed away on April 11, 2026. She was born August 31, 1941 in Ogden, Utah to her loving parents, Lester & Alta Richins Creager. She was the third of four children, including a surviving sister, Marlene Creager Petersen and brother Verl Creager. Lea Ann was a graduate of Morgan High School where she met her high school sweetheart Wayne Richard Bates. They were married on July 31, 1959 and celebrated their 61st Wedding Anniversary before the passing of Wayne in 2020.

Mom’s desire to help others was unsurpassed where she was a Librarian at Morgan High School and provided a safe haven for students. As a young woman she was on the Drill Team in High School where this came full circle and she became the instructor for the drill team. She also helped teach English to Laotian refugees and gave them a trusted source and confidant for their struggles.

Her work ethic and intelligence were unsurpassed where she was tax examiner at Internal Revenue Service and worked until she was 65. She was always volunteering to help others where she served as a Primary Teacher, Young Women’s, Primary and Relief Society President. She volunteered many hours countless hours helping others. Her latter stage of life came full circle where she received help and care living with her daughter until further assistance was required.

Lea Ann loved spending time with her family at family gatherings, cooking family dinners which will never be the same without grandmas rolls. She had beautiful auburn hair with a playful smile. She was a source of strength and support at all family events including weddings, births, holidays and baptisms just to name a few. She selflessly shared a multitude of her talents with her family and friends. She loved cooking, camping in the Uinta Mountain’s, and visiting Yellowstone National Park. Her love of animals included horses, where she was a Morgala Days queen in her youth. Her love was also felt by her cats and dogs who were always by her side.

She didn’t just tell you how to live, she showed you by example. For this we will be eternally grateful.

In her 84 years she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. It was our pleasure to be part of eight decades of family memories, 1008 months of happiness, 4,368 weeks of love, 30,660 days of wisdom, and 735,840 hours of laughter. Mom, your love and presence will be sorely missed. She was a wonderful wife, had two incredible children, seven amazing grandchildren, and six marvelous great-grandchildren. The only comfort to fill the void of missing you, will be all of the wonderful memories and times spent together, living, laughing and full of love.

She is survived by her two children, Annette Bates and Terry (Susie) Bates; her seven grandchildren, Tyler (Sara) Hodson, Casey Hodson, Ashley (Brock) Meibos, Brock Bates, Keisha Timpke, Kailey Bates, and Bryce (Riki) Bates; and her six great-grandchildren, Brynlee, Gracie, Krew, Jett, Tate, and Bexley. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester & Alta Creager and Brother Don Creager.

A viewing will be held on Friday April 17, 2026 from 6 to 7pm at Walker Mortuary (45 W 200 N St, Morgan, UT 84050). A viewing will be held on Saturday April 18, 2026 from 9:45 to 10:45am in the Milton Church Relief Society Room with Funeral Services from 11 am in the Milton Chapel at the Milton Ward (1255 N Morgan Valley Drive, Morgan Ut). Graveside and Interment will follow at the South Morgan Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walker-mortuary.com