Dates
Jeann Bates peacefully entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on the evening of September 3, 2025, after a short bout of pneumonia.
In her 94 years on this Earth, she served as a beautiful example of faith, love, determination, and resilience.
Jeann was born, Billie Jeann Schneider, in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1930, but grew up on a ranch in Menard, Texas. She spent her childhood playing outside, working on the ranch, and reading. Her love of books, language, and learning shaped her into a lifelong learner and educator.
Jeann fell in love and married Vernon Bates in 1949. Together, they ran Bates Grocery Store and raised their three beloved children, Gary Layn, Linda Gail, and Donna Ann.
Once her children were school-aged, Jeann pursued a degree in education, graduated with honors, and taught English, Speech, and Spanish at Menard High School for many years. She loved teaching and loved her students. It’s rumored that she gave her own children lower scores than they earned because she never wanted to appear to play favorites among her students. Even after she left the classroom, she found ways to enrich the lives of others by teaching, and often joked that “chalkdust ran in her veins”.
In 1977, Jeann and Vernon sold the grocery store and left their empty nest in Menard to move to San Angelo. The couple bought a home on Lake Nasworthy that quickly became the family hub, and turned out to be the perfect setting for countless cousin sleepovers with their 7 grandchildren. Jeann delighted in waking up to a house full of palettes on the floor and making “Grandmother toast” while the kids prepared for a day on the lake.
Upon moving to San Angelo, Jeann, who always loved a challenge, decided to get her real estate license and begin a second career. She sold houses for several agencies before finally opening her own real estate office: Jeann Bates/Lafreta White Realtors. She found such joy in helping people buy and sell homes, and of course, teaching them about all the steps in the process.
After over 50 years of marriage, Vernon passed away in 2000, so Jeann began a new chapter in a new home. But, through her grief, she continued to sell real estate, teach Sunday school, square dance, and live life to the fullest.
Jeann retired in 2011 to spend more time with her Ladies’ Spanish group, her church, and her family. Retirement afforded her the time and opportunity to travel and visit her many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, whom she adored.
In 2018, she moved once again to the assisted living community at Lyndale. She made friends with everyone, led Bible studies, and played a lot of Joker. She truly found joy in everything she did, simply because God had given her the opportunity to do it.
Of all that Jeann loved, her greatest love was her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She led countless people to the Lord with her testimony, faith, and joyful spirit. She taught Sunday School for many years and remained active in the church until her dying day. Her faith was unshakable, and her Bible study and prayer habits were unwavering. She was a Godly woman who embodied the fruits of the spirit and was a blessing to everyone around her. We can take comfort in knowing that she has been renewed and is singing and dancing with the angels in heaven.
She is survived by her 3 children and their spouses, Gary and Sharon Bates, Linda and Tom Gossett, and Donna and Jack Wiggins; her 7 grandchildren and their spouses, Kris Bates, Krista and Charles Bouvier, Shanna Payne, Wade and Tiffany Duncan, Jenny and Marcus Smith, Lauren and Matt Blanton, and Sandy and Joe Bauman; her 14 great-grandchildren; and innumerable extended family and beloved friends.
Services will be held on Saturday, September 13, at 10:00 am at the Heights Baptist Church at 4512 Sherwood Way, and the burial will follow at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Any non-San Angelo residents who wish to attend the luncheon should contact Linda Gossett at 325-277-4399.
Donations can be made in memoriam to The Heights Baptist Church or to a favorite charitable organization.
To be continued…