YVONNE CATES GARRETT

1923-2015

YVONNE CATES GARRETT, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher and writer extraordinaire, died November 18, 2015, age 92. Yvonne was born June 28, 1923, in Ferris, Texas. 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. In Iowa, she met fellow Texan, Vernon G. Garrett, Jr. and they married on January 1, 1946. Yvonne taught at Baylor University while Vernon finished his degree and then the young couple moved to Houston in 1947 where Yvonne taught at University of Houston and Vernon began work with Arthur Andersen & Co. They joined South Main Baptist Church 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. Other books are The Stained Glass House, The Building of a Church: 100 Years of South Main, and Listening to Sam. She also wrote for the Baptist Standard for 10 years. She was in leadership roles in many of the church’s programs and, in 1983, was among the first group of women ever to be ordained as deacons.

Yvonne is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Vernon; her son Jon Vernon Garrett; infant daughter, Barbara Jane; parents Harry Louis Cates and Bobbye Tate Cates; brothers Harry L. Cates, Jr., George T. Cates and Durward H. Cates.

She is survived by her children: Beth McCarty and husband Barry, Dana Werner and husband Dennis, Doug Garrett, Richard Garrett and wife Catherine Garrett-Douillet; grandchildren Michael McCarty and wife Heather, Amanda Garrett Blanch and husband Nick, Russell McCarty and wife Kate, Melinda Garrett, Rachel McCarty and fiancé Michael Baird, Amelia Garrett, Daniel Werner, Sam Werner, Anna Garrett-Douillet and Melanie Garrett-Douillet; great-granddaughter Lucy Jane McCarty; sister Vivian Crowson; brothers Don Cates and wife Stella and Mike Cates and wife Linda; in-laws (in-loves) Kathy and Barton Gibson, Bob and Marguerite Garrett, and Virginia Neely; and many nieces and nephews and life-long friends.

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