Edith L. Oates

Edith L. Oates, most recently a resident of Village Mills and formerly of Conroe and Groesbeck, passed away Saturday, May 13, 2017, at her home in Village Mills, at age 96. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at Longmire Church of Christ in Conroe, with Bro. John Helbig officiating. Burial will follow at 3:00 P.M. on Saturday in Hogan Cemetery near Groesbeck. Honorary pallbearers will be “Dub” Wilkerson, Billy Floyd Wilson, Roger Dupree, Bennie Steel, Rex Leach, and Danny Sommerfeld. Edith was born September 26, 1920 in Groesbeck to Henry Francis Marion Wilson and Sara (Cunningham) Wilson. She was one of fourteen children plus three half and three step-siblings, and was raised by her older sisters since her mother died when she was three. They were raised by a dirt farmer in the 1920's, when times were hard to begin with, and with no mother, relying on older siblings; but that created closeness with all the children that lasted her whole life. Her childhood remained very difficult until she was 17 and then Calvin Oates came to her rescue. Edith was united in marriage with Calvin Oates on 7-31-1937 and they moved to South Texas and the oilfields. She eventually moved to Port Arthur by way of San Antonio, and lived there for over 30 years; then moved to Conroe until she ended up moving to Wildwood for two years after her health started to fail. It began with breaking her leg when she fell off the porch at her house, where she lived alone and independent for the last 15 years. Earlier in her life, Edith started working in the banking business and continued until she retired in Port Arthur; then went back to work in Conroe until she retired again there many years later. She had her "Family" and then her church family at Procter Street Church of Christ in Port Arthur and another family at Longmire Church of Christ in Conroe. Everything in her life centered around her three families and she enjoyed being involved with each one. Family was the thing she held most dear. She was an excellent hostess and welcomed everyone in her home at any time, and could whip up a meal for any and all who entered her door. That was her hobby - making you feel welcome in her home. She was a wonderful example to all her children and grandchildren and they all held her in the highest regard, each one feeling they were special. She set the standard for all her children to measure up too. Her whole life was about caring for family. Two weeks ago the Wilson reunion was held, but she was too sick to make it. She was the last surviving sibling, and all recognized the significance of her not being there and what that meant to the Wilson family; a generation was coming to an end. But her loved ones can take heart because last Saturday evening she went to a great Wilson Family reunion where all her siblings welcomed her Home! Mrs. Oates was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Calvin; all of her siblings: Weldon and Leldon at birth, Ruby, Estelle, Earl, Eva and Snowda who died from the bloody flux; and Ila, Bud, Maude, Floyd, Kenneth, and Merle; and a grandson, Mark Oates; and her daughter-in-law and son-in-law. She is survived by her son Charles E. Oates of Wildwood; daughter, Linda Beth DeCuir of Conroe/Houston; 6 grandchildren- Mike Oates, Brad Oates, Chrissy DeCuir, Cory Moore, Lori Allen and Mary Kay Milling; and 7 great grandchildren - Wade, Leanna, Rose, Joshua, Dawson, Scarlett, and Emanuelle; 5 great great-grandchildren, Aaron, Lilly, Isaiah, Maximus and Grace; as well as many nieces and nephews.