Geneva Doylean Coates Shanks went to eternally walk with her heavenly father on Monday, September 30, 2019 in Tyler, TX. Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM, Friday, October 4, 2019 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Park.The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, October 3, 2019 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral home.She was born Sunday, May 24, 1931 in Big Spring, TX to Grover Cleveland Coates and Mabel Beulah Conley Coates. She was one of four children. Her eldest brother was Bernard Cleveland Coates. Her older sister was Bernice Edwadean Coates Welschmyer. Her youngest half-sibling was Alice Kaye Coates Potts.Doylean Shanks was a “can do” type of person. Growing up in The Great Depression, she found many ways to help the family and a couple of ways to get into some trouble of her own. She accomplished whatever she set her mind to and learned from a young age it takes grit to get anywhere.She wrote a story to highlight some of her adventures as a child. She wrote about one day in particular, when she followed her father out to go help milk the cows. She eventually decided that day’s adventure did not end with milking cows. She spied a cat that had made its way to the rooftop of the barn. The “Can-Do” Kid she was, she decided she needed a change in scenery and followed the cat’s lead. She made it to the roof of the barn and was having a grand ole’ time… ‘til she decided she would like to get down. She had watched how the cat had got down, then she decided she could do it too. So with a leap of faith, Doylean jumped off the roof of the barn. In the story, she described she got the wind knocked out of her, but she learned a pretty good lesson. “I was not nearly as tough as I thought I was and that “can do that” attitude can sure get you in a peck of trouble.”Luke 2:40 \And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.\Doylean married Grover Shanks on April 24, 1948.They had three daughters; Barbara Gray and husband, Dennis, Brenda Lenert and husband, Erick, and Bryana Adams. These unions blossomed a branch in the family tree, filled with many grandchildren and great- grandchildren.Doylean Shanks dedicated her life to the Lord and bore the fruits to prove it. After she raised her three children, she went on to own several businesses and became a successful, self-taught artist.The family would like to say a special thank you to Miriam Scott, her dear friend and caregiver. She considered Miriam a part of her family. We cannot express enough how thankful we are for her help.Doylean may have lost her physical sight, but never lost her spiritual sight. She walked with the Lord daily and helped maintain the light in the family. She will be severely missed, but in our hearts we know this is a triumph in her eyes. Doylean was proceeded in death by her husband, her parents and all her siblings.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.,
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