05/29/2023
Bette JoAnn (Coates) Heitman
May 15, 1932 – May 24, 2023
Bette JoAnn (Coates) Heitman, of New London, MO, passed into the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, at 2:25 AM, Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at University Hospital in Columbia, MO. She was buried at Grand View Burial Park in Hannibal, MO on May 26, 2023.
Bette was born on May 15, 1932 at the home of her Grandparents in Shelbina, MO to Loretta Kendrick Coates and George Francis Coates. Bette was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Erlene Williams, Beverly Perry, Kathryn Coates, Alice Yager and Sharon Leake.
She is survived by her brother, J.R. Coates of Canton, MO, and her sisters, Marilyn Lucas of New London, MO and Carole Coates of Hannibal, MO.
She began working at Sealtest after graduating from Hannibal High School. A constant help to her mother, she helped raise her younger siblings. Her mother was known to say, “Everyone needs a Bette.” In 1956, she began working as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. She worked her way up in the company and retired in 1982.
A musician all of her life, she accompanied her sisters, Marilyn and Carole and sang with them as part of a gospel quartet. She played organ and piano for church throughout her life. She raised her niece, Rebecca Lynn (Yager) Sorrell as her own. Becky preceded her in death. The undisputed favorite aunt of all her nieces and nephews. She was special to many of them, namely, Charlotte (Perry) Rhodes, Teresa (Coates) McGann, and Lisa (Lucas) Steinman. One niece, Andrea Renee (Biesterfeld) McCready lived with her many times throughout her childhood. She also became a second mother to nephew, Bishop Elect Steven Yager.
Her second career took her to Tomball, TX where she accepted a position as the church secretary and organist for River of Praise Church. She was fond of saying she wasn’t born in Texas but got there as quick as she could. Lifelong friends, Pastor Gene and Linda Vacek and their family were precious to Bette. She was proud of their children and grandchildren and was a caregiver for them. She will be particularly missed by Pastors Richard and Amy Jennings and their children Christian & Nashon, and especially their daughter, Ashlen, who called Bette her grandma.
She reconnected with and married her high school sweetheart, Rev. Dr. Benjamin “Frank” Heitman of Dexter, MO, formerly of Hannibal, MO on May 10, 1997. They resided in Spring, TX until his death in 2012.
Bette returned to Hannibal to be closer to family. Following in the footsteps of her mother, she volunteered with the Hannibal Regional Auxillary. She was a faithful member of the Mark Twain Club of the Telephone Pioneers. The group of retired telephone operators meets weekly to sew pillows that are given to patients at Hannibal Regional Hospital. Once she became less mobile, she still attended church in her living room every Sunday. She doted on her white miniature schnauzer, Angel. She was an avid reader following politics closely. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She continued to play the piano and sing and loved nothing more than to talk about The Lord. Her parting message to every cashier, server, and maintenance person is the one she leaves everyone with today, “Jesus loves you.”
