Gloria June Goodman Yates was born to E. Dewey and Carolyn Weldon Goodman in Dallas, Texas, on June 2, 1928. She was born the day after Carolyn and Dewey's wedding anniversary, so they declared it to be a "glorious June" and named her accordingly. Gloria was called Home in the early morning hours of Friday, December 20, 2024, at the age of 96.

Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sister, Mary Carolyn Lovvorn. She is survived by her 3 children and spouses: David and Melinda Yates, Robert and Delisa Yates, and Rebecca and Michael Jones; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends located all over the country.

Gloria grew up in Dallas, attending First Baptist Church from Cradle Roll until her Homegoing. At the age of 10, she went to see her pastor, Dr. George W. Truett, telling him she believed Jesus died for her sins and requesting to be baptized. Dr. Truett baptized her on Easter Sunday, April 7, 1939. In 1945, at the age of 17, Gloria graduated from Highland Park High School.

She enrolled in Baylor University and many times took the train to and from Waco via the Abbott Avenue Train Station and the Katy Rail. While at Baylor, Gloria was involved with the founding of the Baylor Religious Hour Choir and participated in the youth revival movement that was sweeping the nation. She was a member of Alpha Omega, which later became Pi Beta Phi, and took part in intramural sports, especially basketball.

Upon graduation from Baylor in 1949 with a BA in Sociology (with Minors in English and Education), Gloria returned to Dallas and First Baptist Church. During the next few years, she served in various roles and played on the FBC Women's Basketball Team. In 1953, she began teaching in a newly formed Sunday School class for high school seniors and met a young attorney named Ed Yates, who was teaching in the same department. Ed and Gloria realized the Lord had brought them together and, after a brief courtship, they were married in the Historic Sanctuary on April 3, 1954.

Gloria and Ed made many lifelong friends during those years serving at FBC and participated in a monthly Supper Club. While Ed focused on teaching and mentoring single men, Gloria especially enjoyed teaching Old Testament High School Bible. She was also very involved with the Women's Missionary Union and, in later years, the church's pregnancy center. Ed and Gloria also sponsored a weekly "Bible Club" in their Lakewood home for school aged children. Gloria was actively involved in her children's education and served in various roles with the PTA while her children were in school, from elementary through high school.

Gloria and her sister, Mary Carolyn, were raised working and spending time at Highland Park Cafeteria, which their parents and grandmother had started in 1925. Ed joined the business in 1962. Ed and Gloria took on full ownership of Highland Park Cafeteria in the early 1970's and moved HPC into a new building not long after. Gloria worked in Human Resources for many years. Gloria often participated in the HPC tradition of daily devotionals for employees and customers. She always endeavored to perform her work as unto the Lord.

Gloria loved the Lord. Her routine was to rise early to read and meditate on scripture and pray for family, friends, and missionaries (from a special prayer list). Gloria was disciplined, faithful, gentle, meek, and kind. She was godly, wise, and humble, not seeking to put herself ahead of others. She was content to serve without anyone noticing. She was a woman of prayer to her last days, even wanting to update her prayer list during her last months.

Gloria's lifelong verse was Proverbs 3:5-6 which reads "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight." Even as her health declined over the last few months, Gloria's faith in her Lord never wavered.

In September of 2024, Gloria June felt that God was calling her Home. She often shared with others that "the Lord is going to take me in December" because that is the month her beloved Ed, sister, and mother all went to heaven. Her mission on this earth was complete when she closed her eyes in the early morning hours of December 20th and opened them again in His eternal presence. Praise the Lord that we will see her again!

A Celebration of Life for Gloria will be held on January 18th at the First Baptist Church of Dallas at 11 A.M. in Lovvorn Hall, located beneath the Worship Center. A private family interment will be held at DFW Veterans Cemetery. Gifts in lieu of flowers may be made in Gloria's memory to the library of First Baptist Dallas, 1707 San Jacinto Street, Dallas, TX 75201, or to a missionary organization of your choice.