Enid Buswell Bates

Enid May Bates
Enid May Bates

Enid Buswell Bates, 93, of Amarillo, TX passed away on April 8, 2021, a life well-lived.

Memorial services will be at 4:00 P.M., Monday, April 26, 2021, at Polk Street United Methodist Church.  Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, Amarillo.   Burial was at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at the Kingfisher Cemetery, in Kingfisher, OK.

Enid was born in Oklahoma City, OK on December 15, 1927, to Enid May Scott and Albert Currier Buswell.

In 1952, Enid married Raymond W. Bates whose love, support, encouragement, and friendship nurtured her personal and professional growth until his death in 1989.

Enid held a BFA and MEd degrees from the University of Oklahoma and an EdD from Texas Tech University.  She was a member of the marching band and charter member of the Oklahoma Alumni Band in 1954.

In 1966, she was asked to join a team of eight curriculum specialists to implement the Title III Texas Cooperative Dissemination Project, the beginning of Regin XVI Education Service Center in Amarillo, one of 20 branches of the Texas Education Agency established statewide.  The curriculum specialists’ task was to work with more than 70 independent school districts providing information about teaching methods and exemplary school programs.

She began teaching in 1970 at West Texas State University in the College of Education.  While there for 27 years, she taught 14 different courses and over 8,000 students.  While at WTSU she developed the University’s Women’s Program, which later became the Returning Students Organization.  In 1976, she initiated the Texas Panhandle Distinguished Women’s Service Awards which is now sponsored by the Amarillo Area Women’s Forum.  She taught at Texas Tech University in the summer of 1972 and a graduate course at the University of Evansville, in Evansville, Indiana during the summer of 1878.

From 1962 through 1998, she authored/co-authored publications which included two books and 16 journal articles. Enid had given hundreds of professional presentations at regional, state, and national levels.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and four brothers, Albert C. Buswell, Dr. Arthur W. Buswell, Sidney S. Buswell, and Richard “Ted” Buswell.

Survivors include 2 sisters-in-law, Margaret Buswell and Rosemary Buswell;

13 nieces and nephews and their families.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Raymond and Enid Bates Scholarships at WTAMU Foundation in Canyon, Texas, or Amarillo College, in Amarillo, Texas.

Sign the online guestbook at www.boxwellbrothers.com.

 

17 Replies to “Enid Buswell Bates”

  1. I treasure the memory of my dear colleague and friend Dr. Enid Bates. We served on a university committee that introduced me to her wisdom, effectiveness, and frank attitude. Over the years she provided valuable camaraderie to me and merit scholarship support for many students including one of my sons. She was devoted to her husband Raymond and her many scholarly and pedagogical interests. Students loved and respected her legendary teaching. Enid represents the highest standards of her profession. I hold Enid in everlasting esteem in the pantheon of great professors.

  2. Dr. Bates were a great example for women in Education. She took me under her wing and encouraged me as an Educator and leader. You will be missed Dr. Bates.

  3. They were two teachers at WT that had a huge impact on me. One was MaryBeth Ford and the other was Dr. Bates. DR Bates was definitely a big presence in a room. She had high expectations and she did not accept excuses. Her method classes were difficult but purposeful. . I am in my 32nd year of teaching and I still remember the things she taught me. I remember her teaching us how to write on the chalkboard. At the time I thought it was silly but boy it was one of those small details that made a big difference. I was very blessed to have her as a teacher. I attribute my success to her teaching tactics.

  4. My sincere sympathy to all of you the family of such an important person in my life. She took me under her wings and guided me through my education She is such a large part of all that I was able to accomplish in my career in education and I truly thank God for her influence in my life.

  5. We have lost a treasure with the passing of our precious Dr. Enid Bates. As many others have mentioned I also took Language Arts Methods from Dr. Bates. Dr. Bates had a different way of teaching than most college professors. We were assigned chapters and tested from our textbook throughout the semester. A typical expectation for college classes. But the gift Dr. Bates gave us was our class time was not used to discuss our chapters. She taught us HOW to teach through her vast knowledge and experiences from her own classroom practices. Dr. Bates wanted us to realize there was so much more to teaching than we could glean from the pages of a book. She taught us to respect the needs of all of our students. She taught us the power of kindness toward our students. Finally, Dr.Bates taught us to never underestimate the power a teacher held in her/his classroom. We were to use that power fairly, justly and lovingly.
    She will be missed yet never forgotten. All my love dear teacher and friend.

    Ummmm, is anyone going to mention the handwriting on the chalkboard test we all had to take and pass. She told me my, “r looked like ducks out of water.’ I am still not clear what that meant but every time I wrote an ‘r’ in my classroom I heard Dr. Bates saying it to me. I loved her for it❤️

    1. Ah, yes! The handwriting tests! I didn’t win any popularity contests with the other students in class, all of whom were 18-19 years old and I was the “old woman” of the bunch at 24. They practiced so much, all the time. I came in, wrote once, and Dr. Bates said, “Alright, that looks good. You pass.” Of course, I had been the nerd of the family who loved to play school during summer break, so I had been practicing long before the rest of them!! Apparently, it paid off…

  6. Dr Bates was one of the most wonderful women I ever met. I served on several WT committees with her and she was always the bright one in the room, both in personality and perspective. I am blessed to have known her.

  7. My deepest condolences to Dr. Bates. I used to deliver Meals on Wheels to her and she was one of my favorites to visit . Always grateful !

  8. First, let me say how sorry I am sorry to hear of Dr. Bates passing. Please accept my sincere condolences.

    Dr. Bates became one of my favorite college professors at WT during the years of 1990-1992 while I was attending the educational program. I had her for the Language Arts/Social Studies Methods classes. I will never ever forget her confidence as she came in on the first day and stared at all of us undeserving, immature, and unknowing students with unrealistic ideas about a teaching career. She was a tough teacher, full of wisdom to share to make your life better as well as honesty to share that might make you cry. She was a pistol…but we needed that and I am so glad that I had her teach me the things she did as I now know about some of the school politics that she spoke of, the realistic expectations that we would need to have in classrooms, and how teachers are professionals and should act and be that way at all times. I made a friend out of Dr. Bates right off the bat as I dressed up for her class every single time we met, and I tried to offer any assistance that I could to her, smile as much as possible, laugh at jokes, etc so that I could get on her good side. I was scared to death of her, but I was definitely on her team. I am proud to have been in Dr. Bates’ classes at WT as I learned so much from the professor and from the woman.

    Back in 2018 I was able to reunite with Dr. Bates by sheer accident at The Harrington Assisted Living Center in Amarillo. One of my precious friends was living there and I would visit just about every week. He would often talk about a new lady friend who he had met there named ‘Doc”. Well, I went to see him one Saturday afternoon and take him for coffee, and he told me he wanted me to meet a friend of his. He took me down the hall and knocked on a door that had a plaque outside of it that said ‘Enid Bates”. Well, I was shocked to say the least. He knew and was a good friend of my college professor. She opened the door and it was like a dream. I became frightened again as I stood there talking to her and all of those memories came back to me. She looked the same to me, however she was about 90 years old now and I had not seen her in close to 30 years. We went inside, I introduced myself, and we talked for hours. She joined my little friend and I on an outing to go to Roasters for iced coffee that day and we had a great time. We ended the day with pictures, hugs, and thank-yous all around. I was honored to get to see Dr. Bates just one more time and tell her how long I had been teaching and how I remembered things that she had taught me. And, THIS is why we become educators…so that we can touch lives of people! I have been teaching 29 years now and it seems like just yesterday I was back at WT in my classes learning how to be a teacher. Please know that she made such an impact on so many lives at WT.

    1. I love this. Dr. Bates could certainly be intimidating to say the least. But when you left her class, you knew the materials. I am so honored to have been a part of the legacy she leaves behind. The Education world is a better place because of her excellent example!

  9. I will always value the methods and information I gleaned as a student of Dr. Bates. She was not only interested in me as a student, but also as a person. Her influence carries to this day. Dr. Bates was my instructor in both pre-graduate and post-graduate classes. I have good memories of her, and her teaching.

    -Rhonda Fanning Wood

  10. I shall remember Enid as a lovely lady with whom I always enjoyed visiting. She contributed in so many ways to our community. She will be missed, but forever appreciated. Rest In Peace, dear friend.

  11. Dr. Bates lifetime desire was to support those seeking an education. She was a long time member of the American Association of University Women and I remember her with admiration.

  12. Dr.Enid Bates was a true mentor. Her teachings and methods helped me become a fabulous teacher. I am so blessed that I got to study and learn from her. I will hold her memory dear for a lifetime.
    Fondly,
    Darlene Martin, M.Ed.

  13. Dr. Bates was a wonderful professor. I was so fortunate to study Language Arts in her Methods courses at WT.
    She was instrumental in my teachings long after I graduated.
    I will hold her memory dear for a lifetime.
    Fondly,
    Darlene Martin, M.Ed.

  14. My deepest sympathy. I have fond memories of seeing Enid at various community functions she supported. She was a wise gracious woman.

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