Helen Elizabeth Cates Coe Neary, always known as "Miss Boo", entered into eternal life February 28, 2019 shortly after she celebrated her 100 ^th birthday! She was born on February 22, 1919 to Helen Holt Kilbride and Charles Craig Cates in Bay City, Texas. During her childhood, she lived in Tiptonville, Tennessee and Kerrville, Texas—returning to Bay City, Texas in 1933 as a freshman in Bay City High School. Since then, Bay City has been her home. She loved being a part of this community and supported so many organizations and activities throughout her century. Miss Boo's lifetime accomplishments were celebrated when she received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Bay City Independent School District in October, 2018. She was so proud of this honor!

Preceding her in death are her parents, a brother, Charles Craig Cates, Jr.; a sister, Patricia Wright Cates; her husband, John S. Neary; her Godmother, Josephine Sargent Smith (Miss Jo), her nephew Houston Holt Browning, and her granddaughter, Helen Elizabeth Simons.

Those surviving are her daughter, Helen Dale Coe Simons, her son in law, James Kirk Simons, DDS; grandchildren-- John Sargent Simons (Elaine), Dr. Bryan Christian Simons (Traci); great grandchildren—Zack, Ashleigh, Ally, Addison, Samantha, Katherine, Mason and Mia Simons; nieces and nephew—Soraya Cates Parr, Cathy Browning Griggs, Colleen Browning and Charles Craig Cates III; her Godsons—Gerald Ludwig and Bruce Grover; very special family members—Anthony S. Doubek, Cyndy Doubek Young, Gene and Pam Coe, Cheli Coe Henderson, Margaret and Charles Goolsbee, Elizabeth Barkley Williams, Lea Logan, Missy and Curtis Howard, Kevin and Rosemary Moodie,

Miss Boo also leaves behind so many special and caring cousins and friends and their families whom she has loved through the generations. These lifetime friendships were her extended family and it was her joy to love them all. Thank you for being a part of her life and know that you have given her so much love and joy throughout her 100 years.

Her family wishes to thank the team of very dedicated, professional and extraordinary caretakers who have made these final years at her home the very best—Wilma Stredic, Willie Bonner, Ida Nelson, Beverly West, Mary Ashby, Zucchini Gaston Hill, Sharon Lenzy; the Team at Houston Hospice for the excellent compassionate care and support for her and for her family, especially Marie McComb; the congregation of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, whose love and care have been the center of Miss Boo's life always, and to Dr. Jim Ely and Dr. Dane Simons for providing both medical and spiritual guidance and friendship.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church with a reception following in the Parish Hall. The burial of her ashes will be held with the family at a later date. Because she always said "I want my beautiful flowers while I am living," , we ask that in lieu of flowers your remembrances in Miss Boo's name be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 2200 Avenue E, Bay City, TX 77414 or Columbia College 1001 Rogers Street, Columbia, MO 65216.

Honorary Pallbearers: Gerald Ludwig, Bruce Grover, Eugene Coe, Dr. Charles Goolsbee, Michael Davis, Charles Baker, Patrick Keen, Richard Rakestraw, Michael Otis, Allan Green, Gary Green, Jack H. Moore, George R. Harrison, James Allen, Carey Homra,

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."     Ralph Waldo Emerson