LaMonte Dion "Monty" Bates was born on July 6, 1967, in Moline, Illinois, to Cecil and Julie Bates.

LaMonte transitioned on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at the Northeast Georgia Health System, Gainesville, Georgia.

LaMonte currently lived in Norcross, Georgia, but he was a former Rock Island native. He was the oldest of four children. LaMonte loved God and family. He worked for Barrow Industries for over 20 years.

He was a licensed massage therapist. LaMonte loved music and was an award-winning pool player. He was a person who would inspire you in all the good things that life had to offer.

LaMonte kept a positive outlook on life and shared it with everyone he met.

Those left to cherish his memory are his father and mother, Cecil and Julie Bates, Rock Island; daughter, Jasmine (Jordan) Flynn, South Carolina; son, Devontae Micheals; sisters, Jo Ann Bates, Rock Island, Kendra Swayzer, Des Moines, IA, and Gina Taylor, Lawrenceville, GA; 1 nephew, C.J. LaMonte Bates, Rock Island; 4 nieces, Brooke Ashlee Greenwood, Raquel and Berlynn Swayzer, and Audrey Taylor; a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, and many who loved him; and a lifelong dear friend, Valecia Hill, East Moline.

LaMonte was preceded in death by his grandparents, Wille and JoAnn Patrick, Thomas and Neva Thompson, and James and Barbara Moore.

A Memorial Service for LaMonte will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Avenue, Rock Island. The service will be livestreamed and can be viewed by visiting: https://vimeo.com/978424715/0376d38209. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service from 12:00 p.m. (noon) to 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Online condolences and memories may be shared with LaMonte's family on his tribute wall at www.wheelanpressly.com.