Dean Ware July 24, 1926 – February 18, 2023

Dean Ware, age 96, of Gatesville, passed away on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. 

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Scott’s Funeral Home Chapel.  The family will receive visitors one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Jewel Dean Ware was born on July 24, 1926, to Asa and Nola Baize Carpenter of Pearl. At the age of 13, Dean’s family moved to Jonesboro. On her first day of school, Dean’s father offered to give a ride to a young boy from a neighboring farm. That young boy would later become the love of her life, Matt Ware. Her husband Matt has always said it was love at first sight for him, even though it took several years for Dean to warm up to him. After several years of courting, Dean and Matt were married on April 27, 1945. They lived in Abilene and Odessa, where they raised two children, Jimmy and Dianne. While raising her children, supporting her husband, and creating a loving home; Dean found time to volunteer with a local florist in Odessa, where she fell in love with the art of floral design. They later moved to Hico in 1969 and opened a local florist and greenhouse. She was the creative spirit behind Hico Florist. From homecoming mums to prom corsages and boutonnieres, weddings, and local special occasions, Dean created joy for others in the thousands of floral arrangements she created over the next two decades. She took pride in her floral designs, from the fresh flowers all the way to the perfect bow and her arrangements were special to all those that received them. 

Dean’s creative spirit would spread beyond the floral shop. She loved to sew and crochet, bake cakes and cookies for others, and garden in her spare time. She enjoyed traveling and experiencing new places with her husband.  With all her accomplishments, her love and marriage to Matt was a testament to all those that came in contact with them. Even in their later years, Matt and Dean were still holding hands while walking the halls of Hillside Medical Lodge in Gatesville. 

Throughout her 96 years, Dean was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend. She will be forever remembered by her kind smile, gentle spirit, and unconditional love. 

She was preceded in death by her son, Jimmy Brooks Ware and wife, Linda; daughter, Bessie Dianne Martin and husband, Keith; sisters, Janie Woodson, Opal Faubion; brothers, John Carpenter and Addran Carpenter.

Dean is survived by her husband of 77 years, Matt Ware of Gatesville; grandson, Austin Brooks Ware and wife, Morlley, of Kingwood; granddaughter, Hope Treacy McCracken and husband, Andrew, of Belton; great-grandchildren, Matthew Ware, Madison Ware, Kaitlyn McCracken; brothers, Jeff Carpenter, Jack Carpenter, and Joe Carpenter.