Vanessa L Sprott

Vanessa Bennett Sprott died July 18, 2019, at the age of 66. Graveside services will be 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at Alpine Cemetery on Sam Page Road, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 A.M., Alpine Presbyterian Church at the corner of Tryon Road and Hiett Lane. Visitation with the family will follow the services at the church.

   Vanessa Bennett Sprott was born to Jean Watts Bennett and James Bennett on October 11, 1952, in Houston, Texas. She played bugle in the Houstonettes drill team in high school, and attended x-ray school at M.D. Anderson Cancer and Tumor Institute upon graduation. She worked as a registered x-ray technician for ten years, and married Thomas Sprott December 27, 1972. His job transferred them to Longview in 1981.

   After giving birth to Tamsyn Danielle Sprott November 10, 1982, Vanessa chose to be a full time mom. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School at Alpine Presbyterian Church, and served on the women’s council. She was an assistant Girl Scout troop leader for two years, and volunteered at Pine Tree school libraries for over twelve years. She also worked with her neighborhood crime watch program. With help from her family and dear friend Connie Holland, she hosted an annual Christmas brunch for many of her friends.

   Vanessa enjoyed crafts and needlework, particularly crocheting and counted cross stitch. She also loved to travel with Thomas, planning detailed itineraries for each trip. Among her friends, she was known as the greeting card sender. Using a computer program and some of her own pictures, she made and sent out birthday and anniversary cards to almost everyone she knew.

   Survived by her husband, Thomas Benjamin Sprott, daughter Tamsyn and her spouse Charles Keesee and their unborn son. Vanessa is also survived by her mother, Jean Watts Bennett, Jean’s sister, Maxine Watts Rhodes, sister, Kathy Bennett Blackburn and her spouse Jim Blackburn, sister, Ginger Bennett, brother Wesley Keith Bennett and his spouse, Petra Bennett, sister-in-law, Barbara Sprott Caudle and her spouse Milton Caudle, brother-in-law, John Sprott and his spouse, Patricia Sprott, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, James Bailey Bennett and his parents-in-law, Betty Erskine Sprott and Thomas Benjamin Sprott, Jr.

   Vanessa treasured the times she spent with friends and family, particularly her times in Galveston with high school friends, Susan Kleb, Paulette Cotrone and Nancy Priest. She also enjoyed Facebook posts that allowed her to keep up with their activities. Reading the newspaper, doing its puzzles, and keeping a journal were also a part of her daily life.

   Memorial contributions may be made to the Alpine Cemetery Fund, c/o Alpine Presbyterian Church, to the Alpine Presbyterian Church at 135 Hiett Lane, Longview, TX 75605, or to Camp Gilmont, 6075 State Highway 155 N., Gilmer, TX 75644.