Elaine C. Bates, 63, of Gilman Street, Putnam, died unexpectedly Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at home. She was the beloved wife of the late Louis F. Bates, they were married May 23, 1971, he died December 7, 2006. She was born December 17, 1945 in Putnam, daughter of the late Henry "Rusty" and Edra Pearl (Morse) Lavallee. She had made her home in Putnam all her life, a communicant of ST Mary of the Visitation Church, Putnam. She was a member of the Putnam Emblem Club and had held many offices. She had worked for over twenty five years in the Office at NADS in Pomfret. She was a member of the Quinnatisset Country Club and enjoyed playing golf. She also enjoyed bowling and bowled on the Women's League and on the Couples League at Friendly Bowl in Brooklyn. She was a girls softball coach and volunteered for the Putnam Little League. She was a big fan of the UConn Girls Basketball Program and was a season ticket holder to the Connecticut Sun Basket ball of the WNBA and an avid New England Patriots Fan. She leaves three children: Shawn Bates and his wife Jennifer of Putnam; Stacy Bates-Trombley and her husband Tyler of Springfield, VT; Kyle Bates of Manchester, NH; two sisters: Janice Lavallee of Brooklyn; Edra "Cookie" Codding of Danielson; a brother: Tom Lavallee of Danielson; five grandchildren: Crystal; Kristopher; Kobie; Karson; Nevaeh. She was predeceased by a brother: Henry "Bobby" Lavallee. Calling Hours will be Sunday, August 16, 2009 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove Street, Putnam, CT. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to the Putnam Fire Department Scholarship Fund, 189 Church Street, Putnam, CT 06260 or Putnam Recreational Department, Children's Activity Fund, 126 Church Street, Putnam, CT 06260. To share a memory, "Light a Candle" at www.smithandwalkerfh.com