Jeffrey Scott Rates, affectionately known to all as Lucky, embarked on his grandest adventure yet, as he laid down his tools for the last time on September 11, 2024. Born under an auspicious rainbow in Southfield, Michigan, on October 7, 1969, Lucky's life was a tapestry woven with laughter, love, and the kind of tales that could fill a fisherman's almanac. Growing up, Lucky was the kind of son who could make even a trip to the grocery store feel like a Saturday morning cartoon - full of antics and unexpected delights. He took this zest for life and channeled it into every nail he hammered and every wall he raised, making his mark in the construction world with a spirit that was as sturdy and reliable as the structures he built. Lucky's love for the great outdoors was as boundless as the Michigan skies. He could often be found at Sherwood Pond, where he'd be out-fishing the fish with his legendary patience and an uncanny ability to tell when they were just not that into his bait. The woods were his sanctuary, a place where he could hunt for peace and track down tranquility with the same fervor he reserved for deer season. But if you asked Lucky what his greatest catch was, without a beat, he'd say it was his time with his beloved daughter, Analyce. Their bond was the kind that could make Hallmark movie writers blush - a love so pure and strong it could only be measured in the number of stars they counted together during their adventurous escapades. Lucky's brother, David Rates Jr. Together, they navigated the wilds of life, often with a mischievous twinkle in their eyes that foretold some new escapade just around the riverbend. His niece, Salina, and nephew, Dylan, along with his great-niece, Scarlett, and great-nephew, Rain, knew Uncle Lucky as the man who's lessons were simple: laughed often, loved more, and never pass up a chance to do a good deed.

Though his parents, Sherrill Fay Rates and David Henry Rates II, had preceded him in his journey beyond, their legacy of love and laughter lived on in every joke he cracked and every hug he gave. Lucky was a man whose generosity knew no bounds, and his wallet was as open as his heart - even if it was just full of moths and old lottery tickets. Lucky's life motto might as well have been, "Live like you're the lead in a sitcom," and boy, did he deliver. He was the kind of guy who could find the humor in a flat tire, the silver lining in a rain cloud, and the funny bone in just about any situation. He was the embodiment of love, the epitome of funny, and the personification of generosity. As we bid farewell to Lucky, let us remember him not with tears but with the chuckles and guffaws he so generously gifted us. Let's honor his memory by casting a line into the waters of life, by taking the unbeaten path into the woods, and most importantly, by loving each other with the same wholehearted devotion that he showed to each and every one of us. So here's to Lucky - may the fish be biting, the game be plentiful, and the laughter be endless wherever you are. You may have clocked out of this life, but the stories of your escapades will live on, as will the echoes of your laughter in the hearts of all who loved you.

Lucky was an avid supporter of the Avengers motorcycle club.