Lenora Juanita Nelson Geotes

Juanita Nelson Geotes, age 93, passed away Friday, June 21, 2013 after a lengthy illness.
She was preceded in death by her husband Harry; her daughter, Wanda; and her father and mother, Johnny and Valera Nelson. She was the last of her siblings to pass in her family.
She was of Irish, English and American Indian descent. She was always fondest of her Irish heritage.
She loved to read magazines and books, but most enjoyed reading her Bible. She enjoyed telling stories of her childhood and growing up on her family farm. She was happiest when she spent time with her sons and family. She really enjoyed spending time with young people and children, especially her grandchildren.
She was born in Bessemer, Alabama. After losing her father in a car accident at the young age of six, her mother purchased a small farm in Hamilton, Mississippi. There she was raised on the farm. She graduated from Hamilton High School is 1938. She was a member of the high school girls' basketball team, of which she was very proud. She enjoyed attending her high school reunions in her later years.
She moved to Gulfport, Mississippi in 1939, where she first worked in a factory and later at J.C. Penny in downtown Gulfport. This is when she met her husband Harry Geotes and they married in 1943. They soon thereafter opened Cottage Café in downtown Gulfport where she would work here as a waitress during the day and take care of her household and children the remainder of her time. Her husband Harry was the cook. The Café stayed open until 1985 when Harry became ill. They were married 43 years until his passing in 1986.
She never remarried and lived the remainder of her life in the home they built in 1952 on 20th Avenue. Her faith in God was always strong until the very end of her life.
She leaves her loving memories with her sons, Chris (Betty) Geotes of Gulfport, MS, Dr. Johnny (Marcia) Geotes of Gulfport, MS, and Ken (Tony Guin) Geotes of Gulfport, MS; and her four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 24, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Rd., Gulfport. The visitation will begin one hour prior to the service time. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery.
Tributes may be offered at www.riemannfamily.com.