Mary Jo Brunson Coates

Mary Jo Brunson Coates, 78, of Plainview passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2015, in Abilene. Family visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 8, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas. The graveside service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 9, in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. in the First Baptist Church Sanctuary, Abilene. Rev. Jack Ridlehoover, a retired minister, and nephew, Rev. Clayton Coates, of Coppell, will officiate. Mary Jo was born on March 28, 1937, in Laird Hill, Texas. She graduated from Pine Tree High School, Longview, Texas, in 1955, and attended Kilgore College and University of Mary-Hardin Baylor in Belton. She married Kenneth Paul Coates on August 30, 1957, in Longview. Mary Jo served along with Kenneth for over fifty years in churches including First Baptist Church, Teague; Eastview Baptist Church, Kilgore; First Baptist Church, Gilmer; First Baptist Church, Andrews; First Baptist Church, Levelland; Tarrytown Baptist Church in Austin; Willow Meadows Baptist Church, Houston; Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, Abilene; and First Baptist Church, Plainview. After retiring, they served at Kowloon International Baptist Church in Hong Kong, 2004-2005. Mary Jo was a homemaker, active in her community and the activities of her children and grandchildren. Her professional life included working in the Continuing Education Dept. and President’s Office at Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Real Estate Agent, Baptist Association in Houston, and Church Hostess at FBC Plainview. She was also active in PEO, a Christian Women’s Organization. She was preceded in death by husband, Kenneth, and parents, Gus and Audrey Brunson of Longview. Mary Jo is survived by daughters, Dianna and husband, Dale Freeman of Abilene, Marsha Coates and special friend Kirsten Heit of Lubbock, and Cyndy and husband, J.B. Mauldin of Abilene; grandchildren, Matt Gill and wife, Kelley of Waco, Tanner Gill and fiancée Lindsey Miller of Miami, Florida, and Gus, John-Paul and Miller Mauldin of Abilene, Dustin Freeman of Hamilton; great-grandsons, Sawyer Gill and Dawson Freeman; sisters, Dorothy and husband, Dick Nash of Burleson, Carolyn and husband, Don Vardeman of Waco, and Wynell and husband, Richard Ogden of Smithville; brother-in-law Dale Coates and wife Sandi of Mesquite; and many special nieces and nephews. Mary Jo’s family wishes to express sincere thanks to Dr. Jose Vega, Jan Newman, the nurses and staff of Hendrick Cancer Center, Parker 7 and SNF Units at Hendrick Medical Center and Hendrick Hospice Care for the hours of care and concern they have provided over the last 15 months. She cared for each of you and you all held a very special place in her heart. Also to friends and family who have been so faithful to support and pray for her during her illness. Memorials may be made to Hendrick Hospice Care, 1682 Hickory Street, Abilene, TX 79601; or Cooper High School “Coogs for the Cure”, P O Box 6182 Abilene, TX 79608.