Drusilla Ward Scates

Funeral services for Drue Scates, 92, will be held 10 A.M., Monday, June 15, 2020 at Walters Funeral Home in Centerville, Texas. Bro. Mark Gray, pastor of LIFE Church in Leona, Texas, will officiate the service. Mrs. Scates will be laid to rest in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in the Ridge Community of Leon County. The Scates family will receive friends Sunday, June 14th from 4 P.M. to 6 P.M. at the funeral home.

The daughter of Henry & Mary (Griffin) Ward, Drusilla Ward Scates was born September 27, 1927 in Bells, Tennessee on the family homestead. She graduated high school and attended business classes following graduation. Drue was married to the late James H. “Jimmy” Scates, and they made their home in Houston until 1982. During that time Drue was a devoted homemaker to her husband and two sons. When her children were grown Drue began working as a secretary for Pasadena Independent School District. She later worked as a secretary for the City of Centerville when she and her husband moved to Leon County.

Drue was an expert seamstress. She sewed all of her granddaughter, Kelsi’s, clothing when she was a young girl and also dabbled in crocheting, tatting, needle crafts and even some quilting. Drue enjoyed working in her beautiful flowerbeds and bountiful vegetable garden and did so well into her later years.

It will be said of Drue long after she is gone that she was, first and foremost, a dutiful and faithful servant of the Lord. When she initially moved to Leon County, Drue was a member of First Baptist Church in Centerville. Later, she and her husband, along with several others, became charter members of Leona Baptist Church in Leona, Texas (now, LIFE Church). Not only was she an active attendee, Drue was a Sunday School teacher and worked for an extensive time in the nursery in Centerville and Leona where she was known as “MiMi” to all of the children she cared for. She was also a founding member of the “Spring Fling” which is now a yearly event at LIFE Church, and was a committed participant in church outreach, focusing particularly on counseling young women and mothers who were going through troubling situations.

Drue was welcomed into the arms of Jesus in the early morning of June 12, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. She was preceded in death by both of her parents; husband, James H. Scates; son, Chuck Scates; brothers, James & Bob Ward and sister, Amy Foster. Surviving family members include son & daughter-in-law, Mike & Joy Scates of Centerville; daughter-in-law, Lynn Scates of Rockport; granddaughters, Kelsi Keepers & husband, Eric, of Navasota and Risa Jones of Texas; grandson-in-law, Josh Jones of Rockport and great-grandchildren, Jabin & Audra Jones of Rockport. Drue is also survived by brothers, Carey Ward of Cincinnati, OH, Carlton Ward of Pittsburgh, PA and Wiley Ward of Bells, TN and sisters-in-law, Eleanor Ward of Memphis, TN and Joyce Ward of Bells, TN, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Pallbearers: Rusty Davis, Don Thornton, Glenn Strutton, Kelly Harris, Kenny Wood, Joe Ward

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to LIFE Church Building Program, 477 FM 977, Leona, Texas 75850.

Walters Funeral Home, Centerville, Texas is in charge of arrangements.