Jennifer Rose Craven Pate left this earth running into the arms of her heavenly father and singing Boomer Sooner as she passed from this life to the next on June 26, 2020 in Houston, Texas. She leaves behind countless family members, friends, and acquaintances who have been forever touched by her infectious smile, sharp wit, and tremendous capacity for accepting and loving others.

Jennifer was born in Guthrie, OK on January 14, 1949 to Diehl and Jean Craven. She spent her years there as big sister to Lary, Caradith, and Emily and loved growing up in their house on Warner with a Chevy in the garage, many beagles to play with, her grandmother's piano she loved to play, and a neighborhood basketball or baseball game happening in the backyard.
She was always involved in church, school, and community activities and volunteered for service projects. She grew up loving sports and watching her dad coach basketball and her brother play basketball and baseball. Her brother-in-law nicknamed her "Auntie Roo" because of her fun-loving, free spirit.

Jennifer graduated from Guthrie High School a year early in 1966 and attended The University of Oklahoma with a major in Social Work. She spent her life cheering for her Sooners and proudly wearing one of her OU T-shirts.

She left OU to get married in 1970 and relocated to south Texas where she graduated from the University of Houston at Clear Lake City, worked as a social worker for several years and raised her three children, Jamie, Robin, and Brice in Freeport. She loved sending cards to friends and family for every occasion. She was an active member of the Freeport Methodist Church. She volunteered for everything from the annual bazaar, the fish fry, to the Church Board Secretary. Jennifer was also a big supporter of the Brazosport Exporters, even after her children graduated. You could always find her on Friday nights during football season at the game in her usual season ticket seat or at the Holiday Classic basketball tournament. Her love for children was one of her best qualities. She was a Girl Scout Leader, Vacation Bible School volunteer, and a preschool teacher at her church. Her grandchildren were the light of her life and she enjoyed watching them participate in sports, dance, music, and church activities.
Jennifer leaves everyone who knew her enriched and blessed by her legacy of passion, loyalty, warmth, humor, and unconditional love.

Jennifer is preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, her beloved nephew, Jeff Craven, numerous aunts and uncles, and her dear friend Sandy Jenkins. She is survived by her children Jamie Thompson, Robin Pate, and Brice and his wife Brandy Pate; her grandchildren Faith, Anthony, Brynna, Bronson, and Addilyn; her brother and his wife, Lary and Kathy Craven; sister, Caradith; sister and brother-in-law, Emily and Gary Orosco; her nieces and nephews: Brian Craven, Sandy and husband Edrick Harrell, Courtney Orosco, Faber Orosco, Jordan and husband Josh Carroll; her dear friend, Johnnie Brannan; and her bonus grandchildren, Mason, Taylor, and Madison Seay.

A celebration of life for Jennifer will be held at the Freeport Methodist Church on July 29, 2020 at 2:00 pm.

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