Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries
William Theodore Block, Jr.
Port Neches - William Theodore Block, Jr., age 87, known as "W. T." or "Bill" to his friends, passed away at Christus St. Mary Hospital on Saturday, December 15, 2007. He was born in Port Neches on July 29, 1935. He grew up on his father's farm, which is currently the land occupied by Oak Bluff Memorial Cemetery.
He graduated from Nederland High School, Cheniers Business College, and Lamar University with an MA degree in history. He also served 3 years in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and taught at Lamar for 2 years as a teaching fellow.
During World War II, he served from 1942 - 1946 in the 78th Infantry Division, earning 3 battle stars for the Battles of the Bulge, Rhineland, and Central Europe. After the war, he worked 31 years for the Postal Service, including 20 years as assistant postmaster in Nederland, or as officer-in-charge in Orange. Later he served on the Lamar University staff for 11 years, retiring in 1981.
Mr. Block was a dedicated historian, publishing 9 books of East Texas history, many academic articles in historical journals, and he was a guest columnist for Beaumont Enterprise for many years. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Nederland, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Texas Gulf Historical Society. He was also a Knight of the Royal Order of Orange-Nassau, a knighthood conferred on him by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. He had also been a ham radio operator for 32 years, and served several years as an assistant scoutmaster.
He was predeceased by his parents, and by Betty, his first wife of 45 years. He is survived by his wife Helga; 3 sons, W.T. Block III and wife Carolyn of Friendswood; Bobby G. Block of Wichita, KS., and Barry W. Block and wife Kathy of Elgin, Texas; 1 daughter, Rebecca and husband Lee Chastant of Nederland; stepson, Ricki Woods and wife Gay of Port Neches; stepdaughter, Elsie Schu and husband Frank of Oglesby; 8 grandchildren; 7 step grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Alta Fletcher of Nederland, Mary Lou Tullos of Houston, also many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at Broussard's in Nederland with Reverend Malcolm Monroe, and Reverend David Bass officiating. Interment and military graveside service will follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches. A gathering of family and friends will be from 5 to 8 PM Tuesday at the mortuary.
Lillie Belle Sedtal Swain
TOMBALL - Mrs. Lillie B. Swain, 82, of Tomball, Texas passed away on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at Tomball Regional Hospital.
She was a native of Port Arthur; born on May 28, 1925 to parents Bazil Sedtal and Devine Fitzgerald Sedtal. She had lived in Ruby, Louisiana and most of her life in Nederland, TX; the last two years in Tomball, TX. She was a retired Nederland ISD employee.
She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, Wilson, Pete, Pee Wee, Steve and Shelton Sedtal. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Hyman W. Swain of Tomball; son, Gary L. Swain of Port Arthur; daughter, Dee Samford Starr and her husband Dan of Tomball; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Tuesday, December 18, 2007 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Grammier-Oberle Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, with Rev. Donald Bean officiating. A private burial will be held by the family.
In lieu of flowers donation may be made in the memory of Lillie Belle Swain to the Inwood Crossing Nursing Home 808 Inwood Drive Tomball, TX 77375.
Terry James Daugereau
Sept. 14, 1955 - Dec. 15, 2007
AUSTIN - Terry James Daugereau, 52, of Austin, Texas, passed away on Saturday, December 15, 2007. He was a native of Port Arthur, Texas, and a long-time resident of Austin, Texas.
Surviving are his father, John Daugereau of Bridge City, Texas; three sisters, Debbie Cappadona of Deweyville, Texas; Jeannie Ouellette of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Joyce Davis of Orange, Texas; and four nieces.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm at All Faiths Funeral Home, 4360 S. Congress Avenue, Suite 115, Austin, Texas, 512.326.8878. Funeral services will be held at All Faiths on Thursday, December 20 at 10:00am. Burial services will follow at Onion Creek Memorial Park, 11610 Chapel Lane, Austin, Texas.
Mary Guidry Vallier
BEAUMONT - Mary Guidry Vallier, 46, of Beaumont, TX died Friday, December 7, 2007 at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital.
Funeral will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at Calvary Mortuary Chapel with burial at Live Oak Cemetery under the direction of Calvary Mortuary Staff. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the mortuary.
She was a native of Port Arthur, TX and lived in Beaumont for 20 years.
Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Wayne Vallier; and sons, Quindarren Vallier (Rosa) and Kenyon Vallier of Beaumont, TX; daughter, Kenretha Fisher (Terrance) of Dallas, TX; sisters, Lillie Gunner of Houston, TX and Ava Marie Baker and Janice Cambell; and brothers, Anthony Guidry, Robert Guidry, Tommy Guidry, George Guidry and Curtis Guidry all of Port Arthur; two grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Randy K. Levy
Randy K. Levy, 40, a native of Port Arthur, TX passed away Sunday, December 2, 2007 at his home in Las Vegas, NV.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 12, 2007 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Paradise Funeral Home, 10401 West Montgomery Road located in Houston, TX (77088). Funeral services will immediately follow in the chapel. Interment will be at Houston National Cemetery 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive in Houston, TX (77038).
Randy is survived by his parents, Isaac "Danny Boy" and Sandra Levy both of Port Arthur, TX; his grandmother, Betty Charles of Port Arthur, TX; his brothers, Michael W. Levy of Beaumont, TX and Darren of Chicago, IL; his sister, Min. Valarie Levy Winn and her husband, Rev. Walter Winn, Jr. both of Beaumont, TX; a special niece and nephew, Aspen and Jalen Winn both of Beaumont, TX; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and co-workers.
Irwin J. Fanette
Irwin J. Fanette, 98, of Port Arthur passed away on Sunday, December 9, 2007, at Christus St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur.
Irwin was born on December 12, 1908, in Beaumont, Texas to Marguerite Raye Fanette and Aladan Fanette. He lived in Beaumont from 1908 to 1940 and attended St. Anthony High School in Beaumont. Irwin attended St. Edward's University in Austin and also played quarterback on the football team; he graduated in 1930. He moved to Port Arthur in 1940 and worked as a machinist and toolmaker for the Texaco Oil Refinery from 1945 until he retired on January 1, 1974. Irwin loved to do many things other than working, he was a Water Safety Instructor for the Red Cross for thirty years; he ran the Lakeview Swimming Pool in the 70's and 80's where he also gave swimming lessons. Irwin also owned and ran with the help of his wife "Mickie", the Fanette Swim School. He was also a member and lecturer at St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus #3195 in Port Acres. Irwin wore many different hats but he also had time for his family and friends, he will be missed dearly.
Survivors include his wife of sixty-six years, Marie "Mickie" Fanette of Port Arthur; sons, Bert Fanette and his wife Jeannett of Bellville, Texas, Kenneth Fanette and his wife Ginger, Marty Fanette and his wife Robin all of Nederland; grandchildren, Darin Fanette and Brian Fanette both of Nederland, Nicole Stonehouse of Allen, Texas, Jill Fanette of Seattle, Washington, Jan Washenfelder of Houston, Grayson Fanette of Nederland; great-grandchildren, Lauren Fanette, Jesse Fanette and Khloe Fanette all of Nederland, Caedmon Stonehouse, Jackson Stonehouse and Claire Stonehouse all of Allen, Texas.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on what would have been Irwin's 99th Birthday at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, December 12, 2007, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Port Arthur with Rev. Stephen McCrate as the Celebrant. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves. A gathering of friends and family will take place from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 11, 2007, with a Rosary to be recited at 6:00 P.M. Tuesday at Grammier-Oberle Funeral Home in Port Arthur.
Howard W. Campbell
FANNETT - Howard W. Campbell, 77, of Fannett passed away on Saturday, December 8, 2007 at the Arboretum of Winnie.
Graveside services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches under the direction of Broussard's in Nederland. A gathering of the family and friends will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 with a rosary at 5:30 at the mortuary.
Howard was born in Port Neches and lived in the Golden Triangle all of his life. He was a supervisor for the City of Port Neches in the Auto Fleet Department for many years.
Howard is survived by his wife of 58 years, Pauline Campbell of Fannett; sister, Nora Myers of Livingston; nephews, James and John Myers; and a host of other relatives and friends.
