Jean Cato Belote passed away on December 8, 2022, at the age of 81.  She was born February 16, 1941, in Clay County, Arkansas.  The daughter of Berylus and Melcenia Cato, Jean was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother as well as a close friend and counselor to many.

Jean is survived by her husband, Bob Belote, along with her sons, Bob Belote, Jr. (wife Deana) of Springfield, and Chris Belote (wife Charmagne) of New Orleans, LA; brothers James (wife Von) of Hazelwood, MO, and Jerry (wife Edna) of St. Louis, MO.  She also had grandchildren, Dr. Alex Belote of Rogers, AR, and Dr. Abbey Belote Brand of Lee’s Summit, MO.  Nieces and nephews included Laura Cato Ridder of Dardenne Prairie, MO, Jim Cato of O’Fallon, MO, Jason Cato of Hazelwood, MO, Derek Cato of Piggott, AR, and Terry Cato Priest of Shirley, IN.  She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Terry Cato.  Terry’s wife, Linda, still resides in Piggott, AR.

Jean graduated from Corning, AR, High School in 1958 and then moved to Memphis, TN, to attend business college.  Like many at that time, Jean had a strong affinity for Elvis Presley.  Later in life, Jean proudly graduated from Drury University, with her B.S. in Psychology, in 1990.  She had long-time positions with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Welcome Wagon of Springfield, positively impacting many lives in the process.  She was the consummate homemaker and an outstanding cook, and tended exceptionally well to “her three boys” as well as fully support and participate in their many athletic endeavors.

A long-time member of Second Baptist Church in Springfield (and Glendale Baptist prior to that), Jean had a real passion for teaching the Bible in her various adult and young women’s classes through the years.  She also had found the Lord’s calling in serving the Samaritans Purse and Operation Christmas Child ministries.  As volunteers, she and Bob organized and packed thousands of shoe box gifts for disadvantaged children throughout the world, introducing each to Christ one shoe box at a time.  They also traveled to and volunteered at Operation Christmas Child processing centers in North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, California and Hawaii.

Jean loved to travel east to Maine, enjoy lobster and clam chowder, and visit lighthouses along the coast.  But her very favorite destination was Marco Island, FL, where she and Bob could enjoy the beach and its fresh air, ocean waves and beautiful sunsets. She loved to spend time enjoying a good book on those special trips as well.

Jean met the love of her life, Bob Belote, at church in Memphis in 1960.  They married in 1961 and spent nearly 62 love-filled years together.  Truly, they were a team – Bob and Jean.  In addition to the love she had for her family, Jean had a number of very special relationships that truly meant the world to her, including deep friendships with Terry & Dave Martin, LaWanka Mallard, Mary Kate Cherry, Barbara & Ray Bradshaw, and others integral to her life.

Please keep the Belote family foremost in your thoughts and prayers.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in Jean’s honor to Operation Christmas Child, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC, 28607-3000 (www.samaritanspurse.org).

Services for Jean will be at 11:00 am Thursday, December 15, 2022 at Greenlawn Funeral Home East. Interment will follow at Missouri Veteran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 am prior to the service.