Audra Bates' Obituary for North Dallas Funeral Home

Audra Ann Bates, 91, died peacefully on Thursday morning, February 19, 2026, at her TexSen Residential Care Home in Dallas, TX. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 9, 1935 , though she lived much of her adult life in Salina, Kansas, until moving to Dallas, Texas in September 2006 after the death of her husband Gil Coker earlier that year. Audra was a Licensed Practical Nurse and retired at age 63 from St John's Hospital in Salina. She loved vacationing with Gil at Lake of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri, always keeping her eyes out for unique gifts for her family. She was an accomplished cross-stitcher, a voracious reader, enjoyed challenging crossword puzzles and trying out new foods and experiences.

Audra was preceded in death by her beloved mother Janice Evans (Salina), father Clifford Bullinger (Denver), and husband Gil Coker (Wichita). She is survived by her four daughters – Laura Stotz (Jack) of Carrollton Texas, Donna Jarecke of Dallas, Stacey Pipak (Steve) of Longview Texas, and Lisa Griggs (Tony) of Salina, Kansas. She had five grandchildren – John Jenkins (Laura), Heather Brown (Keith), Matthew Jarecke, Natalie Jarecke, and Brandon Walker; she also had four great-grandchildren – Harper and Olivia Brown and Michael and Kory Walker.

Audra was a member of St Matthias' Anglican Church in Dallas and a former member of Christ Cathedral in Salina. A Requiem Mass will be held at 11 am at St Matthias' Anglican Church (3460 Forest Lane, Dallas TX 75244) on Saturday, March 21, 2026, and her ashes will be interred in the columbarium inside St Matthias'. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials in her name to St Matthias' Anglican Church.