Sandra Jean Simpson Bates

Sandra Jean Simpson Bates, 71, of Mount Pleasant, Texas, formerly of Orange, Texas, passed away on August 26, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 10, 2017, at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves, Texas with the Reverend Charles Miller presiding. Burial will follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches, Texas. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Sandra was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on March 1, 1946, to William Guy (W.G.) Simpson and Leola Tibbitts Simpson. Sandra spent her early childhood in Groves. Later the family moved to the Deweyville area where she graduated Salutatorian of Deweyville High School in 1964. On August 20, 1965, Sandra married William E. (Bill) Bates; their marriage, produced two children: Tracy Bates McCarver and Rhonda Bates Martin. In September of 1977, Sandra began working for the BF Goodrich plant in Orange, and stayed with them through many company names until her retirement from Lanxess in September of 2006. Sandra loved to read, watch old movies and spend time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by those who had the pleasure of knowing her. Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, W.G. and Leola Simpson; brothers Harold Lee Simpson Sr., Alton Leon Simpson, William Gerald Simpson, sister Helen Simpson Die, and the sister of her heart, Bonnie Outhouse Simpson. Sandra is survived by her daughters, Tracy Bates McCarver and husband Matt of Mount Pleasant, TX, and Rhonda Bates Martin and husband Thomas, of Orange, TX; grandchildren, Katherine McCarver, Brandon McCarver, Emily Martin and Ethan Martin; her many nieces and nephews, and her brother, Lester Wayne (Pete) Simpson of Broaddus, TX. Serving as pallbearers will be Ethan Martin, Brandon McCarver, John Dauterive, Anthony Stricklin, Phillip Kaltenbach, and Jacob Stelly. Honorary pallbearers are Butch Simpson, Carl Dauterive, Jeff Stricklin, Dave Kaltenbach, and Barry Stelly. The family wishes to thank the staff of The Lodge Assisted Living and Memory Care facility in Mount Pleasant, and the staff of Choice Care Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimers Association at www.alz.org , or to other dementia related illnesses.