Lou Ann Moore Pate passed away peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 3, 2023.  Lou Ann was born on February 14, 1931, in San Angelo, Texas, at Shannon Hospital to Arthur Oliver Moore and Lena Mae (McCurdy) Moore.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Arthur O. Moore, Jr., her sister Madolyn Moore Velez, her beloved husband Isaac Samuel (Sammy) Pate, and her step-daughter Jean Pate Morrow of Nolan.

In 1938, during the Great Depression, her family moved to Brownwood where her father was a teacher and rancher, and her mother was a homemaker.  While living a few miles outside of town, her daddy ran cattle, goats, and a few horses, and Lou Ann had a little horse named Smokey that she loved to ride and a pet deer named Bambi.

During World War II, the family relocated to Burkett for one year due to the Army’s acquisition of land for maneuvers but returned to Brownwood in the fall of 1943.  While living in Burkett, Lou Ann graduated Valedictorian of her eighth-grade class; then she attended Brownwood High School and graduated in 1947, ranking third in her class at sixteen years old.  While in high school, Lou Ann played the saxophone in the Brownwood Lions Marching Band and sang in a high school choir quartet.

After graduation, Lou Ann was awarded a one-year band scholarship to Howard Payne University where she enjoyed performing in the Yellow Jacket Band and continued her studies.  Throughout her life, Lou Ann loved music and was a gifted pianist; she sang in the First Baptist Church choir in Coleman, and she enjoyed playing bridge.

Lou Ann met and married the love of her life Sammy Pate in 1977, and they made their home in Coleman, Texas.  Lou Ann and Sammy enjoyed thirty-seven wonderful years of marriage and loved spending time with their children and grandchildren.  Lou Ann often quoted Bible Scriptures with the following being one of her favorites: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path” (Proverbs 3: 5-6).

Lou Ann is survived by her two daughters, DeeAnn Duke Day and husband Ricky of Willow Park, Julie Duke Brockway and husband JB of Coleman; three grandchildren, Daphne Ward of Benbrook, Elliott Swink of Arlington, and Gretchen Swink of Coleman.  Other survivors include nieces Dr. Michele P. Johnson and husband Dr. Terry of Abilene, Dr. Melinda Jo Velez of Duncanville; one nephew Gregory Eugene Pitts of Brownwood; Karl E. Johnson and wife Sarah, and children Caroline and Cooper of Midlothian; Nathan Johnson and wife Melissa and children Naomi and Oliver of Fort Worth; her step-son Stephen Pate of Sweetwater, Mark Morrow of Nolan, Samantha Morrow Peeples and husband KC of Sweetwater, Jessica Morrow of New York City, and Sean Morrow of Nolan; grandson Justin Pate and wife Ashley and children Kayley and Austin of Plano; her sister-in-law Virginia Jameson of Voss, Sarah Beal and husband Steve of Coleman, Daniel Beal and wife Mindy and daughter Cali of Highland Village, Candace Beal of Voss; Chris Jameson and wife Cindy of Coleman and children Colt Jameson and wife Cecilia of Terrell, and Kirstie Jameson of Dallas.

The family would like to thank Dr. Paul Reynolds and all nurses and staff at Coleman County Medical Center; all nurses, aides, and administrative staff of Holiday Hill Nursing Home in Coleman; and a special thank you to Jennifer Elliott of Coleman Health Care Hospice.  The family would also like to recognize Lou Ann’s best friends Patsy Rhone of Granbury, Cecilia Andis of San Diego, and Jerry Allen of Gouldbusk, for their friendship.  DeeAnn and Julie would like to express our deepest gratitude to the numerous family and friends who encouraged, supported, and prayed for our mother and us.

The family will host a time of visitation from 1:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service celebrating her life at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7, 2023, at First Baptist Church, 200 E. College Avenue, in Coleman with Dr. Chas Shira officiating.  Inurnment will follow in the Voss Cemetery.

Services are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman.

Memorials are suggested in memory of Lou Ann to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 983, Coleman, Texas 76834, Coleman Home Health and Hospice, 115 West Street, Coleman, Texas 76834, or to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.

Remembrances and condolences can be written to the family via the virtual guestbook on Lou Ann’s tribute page at www.stevensfuneralhome.com.  Stevens Funeral Home is honored to serve the Pate family.