Gladys Choate

Gladys "Dee-Dee" Choate, 85, passed away Monday, May 22, 2011 at the Wesley Woods Alzheimer's Care Center in Waco.

A private family graveside service will be conducted at the beautiful Oakwood Cemetery on Saturday, May 28, 2011.

Dee-Dee was born October 14, 1925 in Steedman, Okla., and came to Texas when her father began working on the Pitchfork Ranch. After graduating from King County High School and very determined to get more education, she worked and went to and graduated from Blackwell Davis Business School in Oklahoma.

She married Buddy Choate in 1945 and moved to Grand Prairie. One daughter, Nicki, was born to them. After her husband's death in 1952, Dee-Dee took a bus to Dallas every day for driving lessons while her young daughter was in elementary school. After obtaining her drivers' license, she moved to Dallas to work and later graduate from the Executive Secretarial School. She was secretary to the president and owner of Texas Kenworth Co., Executive Secretary at Republic National Life Insurance Co., and secretary and bookkeeper for Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation. Her favorite duty there was issuing prize money awarded to players during the Virginia Slims Championships of Dallas.

She was a very private person with high standards, and a perfectionist. She set goals for herself and achieved them. Her greatest joys were seeing her daughter graduate from college and being a grandmother.

Dee-Dee was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy Choate; and her parents, M.N. and Adia Oliver.

Those left to cherish her memory include her
daughter, Nicki, and son-in-law, Barney Fitzpatrick of China Spring; grandson, Vale and daughter-in-law, Laura Fitzpatrick of Lewisville, and family friends for 38 years, Richard and Betty Kaga of Waco.

Our family would like to thank the following wonderful people for taking care of Dee-Dee: Dr. Browder and Missy, Doctors Jahrmarkt, Cole, Hawley, and the ever present Jan Ellor, NP from Family Practice of Waco, and also the Providence Hospice caring staff that has touched our hearts. Our special thanks to Wesley Woods Alzheimer's Care Center who has provided expert care and guidance to Dee-Dee and her family. Wesley Woods' Willow wing was Dee-Dee's home for over five years, and everyone there was so amazingly professional and loving. Thanks to all of you that have worked or have ever worked on Willow. Dee-Dee was such a very private lady, forever walking and moving furniture, and independent with kisses for all. You came and held our hands. In her final hours, you filled her room and our hearts with your love and compassion.

Dee-Dee's funeral arrangements were entrusted to OakCrest Funeral Home, and Jim (Dr. Mo) Moshinskie's gentle, fatherly guidance will always be remembered.