Lequita (Hutto) Bates

Funeral services for Lequita Bates, 82, of Nacogdoches, will be held at 2 pm, on Friday, May 26, 2023, at Laird Funeral Home with Bro. Stan King officiating. Interment will follow at Gravel Ridge Cemetery.

Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1 pm to 2 pm on Friday, May 26, 2023 at Laird Funeral Home.

Mrs. Bates passed away on Sunday, May 21, 2023 in Nacogdoches, TX. She was born on October 7, 1940 in Nacogdoches, TX.

Lequita Bates was born and raised in Nacogdoches where she attended school and was involved in many activities including cheerleading. Shortly after graduation she married Robert ‘RD’ Fogg, having three children; Charlene, Herman, and Bridget.  She later married Jerry “J.R.” Christy and had two more children; Jerry ‘Rick’ and Jeff. 

Lequita, often called Quita, later married William “Bill” Joucken, spending over 20 years together before his passing.  She eventually made it back to her hometown of Nacogdoches to take care of her ailing mother, ‘Mown-Stelle’.  She loved being back in the place she always called home.  Quita’s children continued to be a blessing to her and she enjoyed spending time and traveling with them and their families.  She found great pleasure in the simplicity of being at the beach with family.  She cherished her grandchildren and loved them without boundaries.  Her grandchildren knew her as “Dancin Granny” because her love of dancing was how they celebrated most when the grands were around.  Quita was a woman of her word; no one ever wondered what she was thinking; she supported her family and loved them all dearly.  Her life adventures and the struggles that go along with them, are what made her into the strong, independent woman she was.  She was tough, but had a big heart.  She was giving and loyal but she was definitely a firecracker.  She taught her family how to love unconditionally and to never take advantage of anything or anyone around you. 

She is survived by her children, Charlene Malek, Herman Fogg, Rick Christy & wife, Tiffany, Jeff Christy & wife, JoAnn; grandchildren, Jacob Christy & wife, Lindsey, Katy Howard & husband, Josh, Jordan Christy, Haley Anderson & husband, Austin, Chris Christy, Cody Christy, Lauren Christy, Amber Christy, Misty Lewis, Heather Malek, Brian Malek, Joey Malek, Jason Turner and James Turner; great grandchildren, Mason Howard, Audrey Christy, Lillian Christy, Jaxton Anderson, Rowen Anderson and Caden Lewis.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Joucken; daughter, Bridget E. Mobley; parents, Archie and Estelle; siblings, Geraldine Southwell and Tommy Hutto; and granddaughter, Kayla Christy.

Serving as pallbearers will be Chris Christy, Cody Christy, Peyton Hutto, James Turner, Austin Anderson and Ethan Wiggins.

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