SPENCER – Matthew J. Bates, 33, formerly of Webster and Dudley, died Sunday, January 19, 2014 at home surrounded by his loving family.
He leaves his father and stepmother, Bryan G. and Dorothy C. (Dodds) Bates of Spencer; his mother and stepfather, Beth A. Lockwood and Robert A. Federico of Warwick, RI; and a sister, Megan E. Bates and her fiancé Jonathan J. Cagney of Portland, ME. He also leaves his best buddy, his Siberian Husky Neko.
He was born in Southbridge and lived in Webster and Dudley most of his life, moving to Spencer in November, 2010. He graduated from Bartlett High School in Webster in 1999.
Mr. Bates was a mechanic at Millbury Ford in Auburn for 10 years, retiring in 2009 because of illness. He enjoyed quad-running and fishing.
No funeral services are planned. There are no calling hours. Donations in his memory may be made to Central Hospice, 191 Pakachoag Street, Auburn, MA 01501. Arrangements are under the direction of Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School St., Webster.