Burnette Watson (Bean) Gales

Born on July 5, 1930 in Crockett, Texas, Burnette Bean was the twelfth of fourteen children born to the union of Jim and Willie Parks Bean.  During her early years, she united with the Church of the Living God and later became a member of New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church.

Burnette attended public school in Houston County.  As a young woman, she met and married  Avanak Watson and together, they reared six children.  She loved her children and fiercely supported them.  She was actively involved in all facets of her children’s education and extracurricular activities, rarely missing a football game, basketball game or track meet.

After Avanak’s death in 1968, Burnette learned to drive the family car and continued to guide her children, assuming the role of both mother and father.  Her children often believed that she was   clairvoyant as they could never understand how she knew of their chicanery, yet there was no way to escape the subsequent tongue-lashings she gave.

Burnette was affectionately known as “Nannie” (a name coined by her niece, Gayle), by her grand-children and great-grandchildren.  She loved spending time with family and was never too tired or aged to entertain her grandchildren with her dancing skills.  Impromptu Sunday visits with friends and relatives were a regular occurrence.  Her visits were often shared with her cousins, Frankie Jones and Jessie Singletary-Page.

Always having an out-going personality and concerned spirit, she was an active member of the 4-H Club and the Lovelady Parent Teacher Organization.

After the passing of her last sibling, Burnette became the matriarch of the family for her nieces and nephews.  Besides working in her flower garden, she loved watching the Dallas Cowboys and  Houston Rockets play.  One of her favorite outings in Houston was when her grandson, Jason, took her to a Rockets vs. Warriors basketball game where she was photographed with Calvin Murphy.  Seeing Steph Curry, her favorite player, was the highlight of the outing.

Burnette lived a good, long life.  On January 9, 2025, God welcomed her into eternal rest, leaving big shoes for her children to fill.  During her senior years, she met and married Bro. Isaac J. Gales, who preceded her in death, as well as an infant grandson (Andrew Watson Broady).   Left to cherish her memory and carry on her legacy are her daughters: Ruth Jones of Houston, Burnic King-Jordan of Sugar Land, Judy Scott (Billy) of Crockett, and Deborah Broady of Houston; two sons, Kimmy Watson (Faye) of Houston, and Ralph Watson of Lovelady; bonus daughter/niece, Gayle Winfrey (Greg) of Austin; 13 grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren; thirteen great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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