Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries
Frances G. Whatley
PORT ARTHUR - Frances G. Whatley of Port Arthur passed away on Monday, August 6, 2007 at Cypress Glen Nursing Home in Port Arthur at the age of 76. She was born in Norphlet, Arkansas on February 3, 1931.
Frances was a resident of the Port Arthur area for most of her life.
She retired from Wal-Mart as an associate in the layaway department after 17 years of service. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Port Arthur.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 8, 2007 from 5 P.M. to 8 P.M. at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home. Funeral service will be on Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 2:00 P.M. in the Thompson Memorial Chapel at Clayton Thompson.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Clayton Thompson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Aubrey T. Whatley, her mother, Gladys Gillespie and her sister, Shirley Wharton.
She is survived by her daughters, Janeen Conner, Cheryl Burke and Suzonne Guy all of Port Arthur, Texas, Loretta Beck of Bridge City, Texas as well as her brother, Roy Young of Hamshire, Texas.
She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jimmy Guy, Jr., Darryl Guy, Shane Burke, Melissa Boutte, Ashley Moore, Aubrey Conner and Jeffery Conner along with her three great-grandchildren, Jaide, Jacob and Caden.
Alice Sofie Creswell
CLIFTON - Alice Sofie Creswell passed away on October 13, 2006 in the Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home in Clifton, TX at the age of 94. Graveside service will be held on Monday, October 16, 2006 at 2 pm at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 15 from 3 to 5 at Christ Lutheran Church on 3101 MacArthur. She was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 28, 1912 to Norwegian immigrants Sofie N. Nilsen and George Arnt Arnesen. In 1916 the family came by boat to Galveston, Texas and settled in Port Arthur, Texas where Mr. Arnesen worked on the docks as a stevedore. Mrs. Creswell was a long-time member of St. John Lutheran Church in Port Arthur, Texas, where she was confirmed and marriage. Alice was very active in the Sunday school, youth group, ladies organizations, and the church choir. In 1934 she marriage Philip B. Creswell and they had two daughters Shirley and Phyllis. Alice was very devoted to her family. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed entertaining family and friends. She also enjoyed sewing, painting, and playing her organ. In 1973 she and Philip retired first to Lakewood, Colorado and then to Hewitt, Texas where they joined Christ Lutheran Church in Waco, Texas. She is preceded in death by her husband Philip Creswell and her sister Florence Gentis. She is survived by her brother George R. Arnesen of Bridge City, Texas, daughter Shirley and husband Harold Meissner of Dallas, Texas, Phyllis and husband Craig Fleming of Georgetown, Texas 9 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren Memorials may be made to Clifto Lutheran Sunset Home, P.O. Box 71, Clifton, Texas 76634.
Thelma Ellen Monroe
PORT ARTHUR - Thelma Ellen Monroe, 87, of Port Arthur, Texas died Thursday, October 12, 2006 at her home. Thelma was born on May 10, 1919 in Sabine Pass, Texas to James William Clark and Lula Hoelzer Clark. She was a homemaker and lifelong resident of Port Arthur. She was a member of the United Methodist Temple, and the Eastern Star, Port Arthur Chapter #262, and was past Worthy Matron. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 16, 2006 at the United Methodist Temple in Port Arthur. Reverend Chuck Huffman will be officiating. Burial will be held at Campground Cemetery in Glenmora, LA at 3:00 p.m. Monday. Visitation will be Sunday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves. Serving as pallbearers will be Madison Monroe II, Marc Grado, Jason Hopson, Russell Monroe, Kim Klahsen, and Bill Thornton. Thelma is survived by two daughters; Janet Dunderdale of Port Arthur and Becky Monroe of Port Arthur; two sons, James Monroe of Port Arthur and W. Sam Monroe, and wife Linda of Port Arthur; five grandchildren, Kristine Grado, and husband Marc, Madison Monroe II, Ellen Hopson, and husband Jason, Meghan Monroe, and Russell Monroe, three great-grandchildren; Marcy Grado, Karissa Grado, and Auston Hopson.
Paula Kay Teinert
PORT ARTHUR - Mrs. Paula Kay Teinert, 63, of Port Arthur passed away on Friday, October 13, 2006 at her residence. She was a native of DeQuincy, Louisiana; born on May 10, 1943 to parents William Alan Gatling and Lola Marie Gatling Hall. She graduated from Dayton High School in Dayton, Texas where she was a cheerleader and sports editor for the school paper and also involved with other organizations. She also attended Port Arthur College and worked for the Gulf Oil Corporation. She had lived most of her life in Port Arthur. She was a loving and caring mother and was a source of strength and faith to her family. She was of the Lutheran faith. She was preceded in death by her baby daughter Stacy Lynn Teinert and parents. She leaves to mourn her loss, her loving husband of 43 years, Jim Teinert, her devoted sons, Brett Teinert and Lance Teinert and his wife Ellie; and her grandchildren whom she adored, Chase and Lanie; brother, Jim Gatling and his wife Marsha; sisters, Barbara Spencer and her husband Paul, Charlotte Gatling Pratka; sister-in-law, Jo Ann Ash and her husband Karl, and many nieces and nephews. A visitation will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2006 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Grammier-Oberle Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, October 16, 2006 at 2 P.M. at the funeral home, with Rev Timothy Dinger officiating. Entombment will follow at Green Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Scleroderma Foundation at www.scleroderma.org, Lupus Foundation of America at www.lupus.org, Arthritis Foundation at www.arthritis.org or to a charity of your choice.
Edward Terrance Skaro "Granddaddy"
Edward Terrance "Granddaddy" Skaro, a "Friend to Man" passed on October 5, 2006, born in Pueblo, Colorado on October 6, 1921 to immigrants Anna Hegler Skaro and Antone Skaro. Upon joining the U.S. Army during WWII, he served in the infantry in Europe, attained the rank of Sergeant, and received an. Honorable Discharge. After military service, he returned to the Pueblo, Colorado area where he worked, marriage and attended college receiving a B.S. in Business Administration from Denver University.Ed was marriage to his wife of 57 years, Mary Athlene Rigney Fulbright. His business career was in sales of insurance, advertising products and he retired from Sears, Roebuck & Co. He continued his education by taking courses at the Port Arthur extension to Lamar University. In his later years, he was involved in real estate sales and worked with his attorney daughter. He moved from Colorado to Port Arthur, Texas with his wife and son where he became active as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and Royal Ambassador Leader in Proctor Baptist Church. He was very active in community service in Port Arthur, Texas as a crisis counselor for Suicide Rescue, member of Toastmasters, Lions Club, City Tourist Guide, and Republican Party Precinct Chairman. In 1995, he and his wife moved to Corpus Christi where he continued community activities with First Baptist Church and Toastmasters. He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Ann DeVore. He is survived by his wife Mary Athlene Skaro, a twin brother Harry Skaro and wife, Jackie Skaro of Frisco, Colorado, daughter Ann A. Skaro and son-in-law Frank G. Delaney, son Terrance A. Skaro and daughter-in-law Sue, granddaughter Anya-Briel Delaney Morales, and two great-grandchildren, Briella and Ciana Morales. A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 9, 2006 at First Baptist Church. 3115 Ocean Drive, following a private grave-site ceremony. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to First Baptist Church, Corpus Christi, Texas or Proctor Baptist Church, Port Arthur, Texas. Maxwell P. DunneFuneral Service, Inc.1222 Morgan Ave.Corpus Christi, TX 78404
Rev. Msgr. Francis H. Burlton
BEAUMONT - Rev. Msgr. Francis H. Burlton, pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Beaumont. Schedule of service arrangements are as follows:Tuesday, October 176:00 p.m. - Reception of the Body at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Beaumont 6:30 p.m. - Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Beaumont 7:30 p.m. - Rosary at Our Lady of the Assumption Church Wednesday, October 18 4:30 p.m. - Reception of the Body at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont, Texas 6:30 p.m. - Vigil Service at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, Beaumont, Texas Thursday, October 19 7:15 a.m. - Mass will be offered for repose of Msgr. Burlton's soul - St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica (Public is welcome)10:00 a.m. - Mass of Christian Burial - St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont In lieu of flowers, Msgr. Burlton asked that memorial gifts be sent to: Diocese of Beaumont Seminary Fund P. O. Box 3948 Beaumont, Texas 77704
Viola Blackman
GROVES - Viola Blackman, 87, of Groves, Texas died Friday, October 13, 2006 at Cypress Glen East Nursing Home in Port Arthur, Texas. Viola was born on May 4, 1919 in Weimar, Texas to Alvin Breithaupt and Henriette Kach Breithaupt. She was a resident of Groves for 64 years and longtime member of Gulf Avenue Church of Christ. She was also a member of the Nederland Eastern Star Chapter 1079. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Monday, October 16, 2006 at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves, Texas with Mr. Dale LeBlanc officiating. An Eastern Star Service will be conducted by Eastern Star Chapter 1079. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2006 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee R. Blackman. Survivors include her son, Lee Alvin Blackman of Groves, Texas; sisters, Mae Bell Pierce and Lillian Zatopek of New Caney, Texas; grandchildren, Jessica Blackman, Eric Blackman, and Jordan Blackman.
Cecelia M. "Blondie" Willis
Cecelia M. "Blondie" Willis, journeyed home with the Lord on Thursday, October 18, 2007.
The beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, a native of Gueydan, Louisiana was born on March 18, 1927 and has been a resident of Groves, TX for the past 57 years. Cecelia was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church of Groves and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 228 Auxiliary of Port Arthur.
Cecelia and V.J. "T-Boy" Willis celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last July 5th. Cecelia was preceded in death by two sons, Ernest Lee and John Bradley Willis; and granddaughter, Vanessa Harvey. She is survived by her husband and three children, V.J. "Willy" Willis, Jr. of Schulenburg, James Willis of Groves, and Anita Willis of Towanda, KS; eight grandchildren, Jeffory, Kenney, Toby, Michelle and Bryan Willis, Stephen King, Angeline Ringwald, and Lisa Stout; nine great-grandchildren, Chase, Hunter, Justin, Ashley and Travis Willis, Wyatt Williams, Garrett Saulters, Branden Harvey and Slade Stout.
Visitation at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves will be held on Sunday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., followed by a Rosary Service at 7:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 22, 2007 at St. Peter Catholic Church in Groves with Monsignor Kenneth Greig officiating. Additional services will be held at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville, Louisiana at 2:00 p.m. Monday afternoon followed by burial at Abshire Cemetery in Crowley, Louisiana.
The family request that donations be made in Cecelia's name to: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; P.O. Box 297153; Houston, TX 77297-9153.
