Joanne Lee, age 80, of Gatesville passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2012.

Services were at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 8, 2012, at Scott’s Funeral Home with Charles Grossman officiating. Burial followed at the Pearl Cemetery in Pearl, Texas.

Joanne was born on October 28, 1932, at home near Pearl, the youngest child of Fred Robinson and Nollie Harman Robinson. She rode a paint horse to catch the school bus to Pearl School where she enjoyed everything from singing to playing basketball with one of her best friends, Inez Freeman Arnold. Joanne was a member of the Pearl Methodist Church at that time. She graduated from Pearl High School in 1950 and married her husband of 62 years, the love of her life, Nelson Lee. They moved to San Angelo, Texas, shortly after their marriage where Joanne attended the First Baptist Church of San Angelo. After their return to Pearl in 1960, Joanne joined the Pearl Baptist Church and was an active member there until her death Wednesday. She was a true example of how to live the life God wants us to live.

Joanne worked as a teacher’s aide at Gatesville Elementary School for a brief period of time until she became a staff member, then officer of the Guaranty Bank and Trust, now Extraco, in 1970. She retired from Extraco in 2003 after 32 years of service to the bank. During that time, Joanne developed many enduring friendships with bank co-workers and customers.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Robinson in 1977 and Nollie Robinson in 1982, and Joanne’s sister, Fredonia Robinson Wright, in 1977.

In addition to her husband of 62 years, Nelson Lee, Joanne is survived by her daughters, Dionitia Parrish and husband, Donald of Evant, Texas and Lu Crenshaw and husband Chuck, of Vienna, Virginia; four grandchildren, John Parrish and wife, Lisa, Gayla Hodges and husband, Matt, Kay Hunt and husband, Jared, and Charles Crenshaw and wife, Christina; and six great-grandchildren, Mattie Hodges, Kade Parrish, Katy Parrish, Kelby Jones, Case Jones and Kagen Hunt; and her only niece, Fredye Wright Gross and husband, Adam, and their two children Perry and Kyle Gross.

Our deep gratitude goes to the caregivers who lovingly devoted themselves to Joanne over the years, including Denise Kleshick, who assisted Joanne at home. Thanks also goes to the staff at Scott & White Hospital & Clinic and The Meadows, whose rehab and care enabled Joanne’s return to her home after breaking her hip this year. Amazing love and assistance was shown from the owners and staff at Pruitt’s where Joanne and Nelson made their weekly trek to eat fried catfish with friends and family.

Memorials may be made to Pearl Baptist Church, c/o Bettie Blakley, 2082 F.M. 1690, Gatesville, Texas 76528.