Jo Ann Woodward Bates

Funeral services for JoAnn Bates, 80, of Levelland will be at 10:00 am, Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at Park Drive Baptist Church, Levelland with Rev. Gil Ramirez, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in City of Levelland Cemetery under direction of George Price Funeral Home, Levelland. She died on Saturday, March 16, 2013 in Lubbock.

Jo Ann was born on October 26, 1932 in Terrell, Oklahoma to Claude William and and Lillie Cleo (Smith) Woodward. She married Jesse Bates on November 14, 1948 in Portales, New Mexico and he preceded her in death on February 28, 2008. Jo Ann was a member of Park Drive Baptist Church and had worked as a cashier for Jim Dandy Grocery. She was also preceded in death by two grandchildren: Patrick Slape and Leslie Messer Wilson.

She is survived by four daughters: Angelia Messer and her husband, Billy of Carlsbad, New Mexico, Barbara Polk and her husband, Gary; Vickie Slape and her husband, Lonnie and Paula Duff and her husband, Don all of Levelland, Texas; her sister: Jewel Jones Swisher of Portales, New Mexico and a sister in law; Myrtice Woodward, also of Portales four granddaughters: Julie Rowden and her husband, Scott, Susan Duff of Lubbock, Texas; Jill Frost and her husband, Will of Amarillo, Texas and Kasey Tarantino and her husband, Pat; three grandsons: Matt Slape and his wife, Shalyn of Levelland, Josh Messer and his wife, Colita and John Duff, all of Lubbock, Texas.

The family suggests memorials to the Leslie Wilson Scholarship Fund c/o the Carlsbad Foundation, 114 S. Canyon, Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220.

To join the family in celebrating Jo Ann’s life, please go to www.georgepricefunerals.com