*ADF109* 02/26/2025 10:39:44 AM ADF109
State of Arkansas 1
95th General Assembly 2
Regular Session, 2025 HMR 1006 3
4
By: Representative Gramlich 5
6
7
HOUSE MEMORIAL RESOLUTION 8
TO REMEMBER ARKANSAS ARTIST AND EDUCATOR STACY BATES 9
FOR HER TALENT AND KINDNESS, AND FOR THE INSPIRATION 10
AND GUIDANCE SHE PROVIDED TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. 11
12
13
Subtitle 14
TO REMEMBER ARKANSAS ARTIST AND EDUCATOR 15
STACY BATES FOR HER TALENT AND KINDNESS, 16
AND FOR THE INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE SHE 17
PROVIDED TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. 18
19
WHEREAS, Arkansas artist and educator Stacy (Beck) Bates, formerly of 20
Fort Smith, passed away Wednesday, February 19, 2025; and 21
22
WHEREAS, Stacy Bates was born March 8, 1985, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, 23
to David and Karen Beck; and 24
25
WHEREAS, Stacy Bates loved basketball from an early age, and in her 26
role as point guard for the Greenwood Lady Bulldogs basketball team, she was 27
annually among the scoring leaders in the nation, particularly in three -point 28
shooting; and 29
30
WHEREAS, Stacy Bates also loved art from an early age, and graduated 31
from the University of the Ozarks in 2007 with a degree in art and a minor in 32
education, and she was named the university's outstanding student in art in 33
2007 and its artist of the month in September 2018; and 34
35
WHEREAS, Stacy Bates specialized in creating black -and-white, pen-and-36 HMR1006
2 02/26/2025 10:39:44 AM ADF109
ink illustrations along with murals that combined her two (2) favorite 1
styles, drawing and printmaking; and 2
3
WHEREAS, as of 2018, Stacy Bates had completed seven (7) murals in 4
Arkansas and Oklahoma, her illustrations had been featured in three (3) books 5
and one (1) fully illustrated children's book, and some of her work was on 6
display at Gallery1988 in Los Angeles, California; and 7
8
WHEREAS, in 2018, Stacy Bates joined author Kathy Watson to create "My 9
City is a Fort", a picture book celebrating the two hundredth anniversary of 10
Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Stacy Bates's vibrant artwork brought the city and 11
its history to life for thousands of families and inspired children to 12
explore, create, and serve; and 13
14
WHEREAS, Stacy Bates grew her personal business brand, Stacy Bee Art, 15
and became highly in demand for mural commissions among other artistic 16
endeavors; and 17
18
WHEREAS, Stacy Bates was an art educator with the Fort Smith Public 19
Schools for seventeen (17) years, and her legacy will live on through the 20
lives of her students; and 21
22
WHEREAS, friend and Woods Elementary Principal Sharla Whitson said of 23
Stacy Bates, "Mrs. Bates brought creativity, joy, and inspiration into our 24
classrooms, nurturing the artistic talent of countless students. She fostered 25
a love for art through her teaching"; and 26
27
WHEREAS, friend and Woods Elementary School music teacher Patti Hill 28
said of Stacy Bates, "She will be loved and remembered for her love of art, 29
children, and her helpful heart. She didn't just do her job; she inspired us 30
all. I've always heard when someone you love becomes a memory, the memory 31
becomes a treasure. Stacy has always been a treasure and the memories of 32
testing themes, musicals done together, art/music units will forever make me 33
smile. She truly brought arts education to life in living color and touchable 34
for our children"; and 35
36 HMR1006
3 02/26/2025 10:39:44 AM ADF109
WHEREAS, friend and Fort Smith Public Schools art educator Leah Stark 1
said of Stacy Bates, "There are too few elements in this world to accurately 2
depict Stacy and the character she exuded in every aspect of her life. She 3
was the Alice that the Mad Hatter needed and likewise, was precisely what the 4
world needed. Her life encompassed a sophistication in art and knowledge, a 5
whimsical nature spurred on by humor, a boldness that accompanied her 6
convictions and a pure character that was driven by her greatest desire: to 7
see others succeed. Although her physical presence is no longer a luxury we 8
have here on Earth, how fortunate we are to have been loved by her"; and 9
10
WHEREAS, Stacy Bates's husband, Justin Bates, said of Stacy Bates, 11
"With Stacy, her work and her vision was just that: a look into her soul and 12
spirit. The world she created through her work, as a professional solo artist 13
and as a sculptor of the young minds in the Fort Smith Public School System, 14
contained so much love for people, for humanity, for family, for animals, and 15
for peace. She was the embodiment of the Golden Rule and a model for all of 16
us to follow", 17
18
NOW THEREFORE, 19
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY -FIFTH GENERAL 20
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 21
22
THAT the House of Representatives remember Arkansas artist and educator 23
Stacy Bates for her talent and kindness, and for the inspiration and guidance 24
she provided to future generations. 25
26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption, a copy of this resolution be 27
provided to the family of Stacy Bates by the Chief Clerk of the House of 28
Representatives. 29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36