Yvonne Cates Garrett

YVONNE CATES GARRETT, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher and writer extraordinaire, died November 18, 2015, age 92. Yvonne was born June 28, 1923, between India and Ferris, Texas, in Ellis County. She received her B.A. from East Texas State Teachers’ College (now Texas A&M Commerce) and her Master’s Degree in Radio Journalism from the University of Iowa. While in Iowa, she met fellow Texan, Vernon G. Garrett, Jr. who was stationed nearby in the Naval Air Corps. Because of the war, most of their courtship was via letters and Yvonne was an avid letter writer for the rest of her life. Vernon and Yvonne were married on January 1, 1946 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and moved to Waco, Texas where Yvonne taught at Baylor University while Vernon finished his degree. In 1947, the young couple moved to Houston where Yvonne taught at The University of Houston and Vernon began work with Arthur Andersen & Co.

They joined South Main Baptist Church in 1947 (church home of Vernon’s mother and grandmother) where they made many lifelong friends. Yvonne taught Sunday School for 35 years, including a class for newlyweds which led to her first book: The Newlywed Handbook (Many couples credit her with saving their marriages!). Other books are The Stained Glass House, The Building of a Church: 100 Years of South Main, and Listening to Sam. She also helped Keli Turner compile the testimonies for Declarations of the Soul and wrote the South Main newsletter for the Baptist Standard for over 10 years. She was in leadership roles in many of the church’s programs including WMU (holding every office of that organization), SMILE and MainStreamers. Some of her committee service includes: Pulpit Committee that called Bill Turner as pastor, 50th Anniversary Committee, 85th Anniversary Committee, 80 Onward, Stewardship Committee, History Book Committee editor, Women on Mission, Heart & Soul, Coordinating Committee, Nominating Committee (member and Chair), Food & Kitchen Committee, Advent Officer, and contributor and worker on the Advent Book for many years. In 1983, Yvonne was among the first group of women ever to be ordained as deacons at South Main and she was later named an Honored Deacon of the church.

Yvonne is preceded in death by:

Her husband of 63 years Vernon Greenwood Garrett, Jr.; Son: Jon Vernon Garrett; Infant daughter: Barbara Jane Garrett; Mother: Bobbye Edith Tate Cates; Father: Harry Louis Cates, Sr; Brothers: Harry Louis Cates, Jr., George Truett Cates; Durward Hampton Cates

Survived by: Daughters: Beth Garrett McCarty and husband Barry of Houston and Dana Garrett Werner and husband Dennis of Austin

Sons: Doug Garrett of Austin, TX and Richard Garrett and wife Catherine Garrett-Douillet of Dubuque, Iowa

Grandsons: Michael McCarty and wife Heather, Russell McCarty and wife Kate, Daniel Werner, and Sam Werner; Granddaughters: Amanda Garrett Blanch and husband Nick, Melinda Garrett, Rachel McCarty and fiancé Michael Baird, Amelia Garrett, Anna Garrett-Douillet, Melanie Garrett-Douillet; Great-granddaughter: Lucy Jane McCarty Sister: Vivian Del Cates Crowson

Brothers: Don Tate Cates and wife Stella Oates Cates, Michael Reid Cates and wife Linda Kaserman Cates

In-laws (In-loves): Kathy and Barton Gibson, Bob and Marguerite Garrett, Virginia Garrett Neely Numerous nieces and nephews and life-long friends

Gifts may be made to South Main Baptist Church, Houston, Texas.

The family will receive friends at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home from 4-7pm on Tuesday, November 24, 2015.

A graveside service will be held at 10am at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, followed by a Memorial service at South Main Baptist Church at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, November 25, 2015.