JOSEPH LEAKE "JOE" KIRKLAND, JR.
NOME - Joseph Leake "Joe" Kirkland, Jr., 65 of Nome died Sunday, December 17, 2006 at his residence. Joe Kirkland a native of Alexandria, Louisiana, was raised in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and resided in the Beaumont area for many years. Joe was a Traffic Supervisor for thirty-six years for Texaco/ Huntsman. He also was a member at Wesley United Methodist Church, the Lost Cord Group, and O.P.E.R.A., and enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing, woodworking, and collecting Texaco memorabilia.
He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Kirkland of Nome; daughters, Jackie and Trey Hill of Lafayette, Louisiana, Theresa and Tony Myers of Beaumont, Francie and Jay Ingram of Ajax, Louisiana; son, Greg and Cindy Hood of Nome; brother, James Frank and Carol Kirkland of Natchitoches, Louisiana; grandchildren, Myles Myers, Garrett Ingram, Grant Ingram, Andrea Hill, Brennan Hill, Rachael Hill, Cody Hood, Cara Hood; and his dog, Priscilla. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Joseph Leake Kirkland, Sr. and Doris McCrery Kirkland.
The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont with burial to follow, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A gathering of family and friends will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at the mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4464, Houston, Texas 77210-4464, or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 5144, Beaumont, Texas, 77726-5144
Mr. Lionel Knatt "Cool Breeze"
PORT ARTHUR - Mr. Lionel "Cool Breeze" Knatt was born June 29, 1936 in New Iberia, LA. He was united in marriage to Mrs. Camella O’Brien Knatt and to this union one child was born, Jasmine Knatt.
Brother Knatt was called of God to affiliate with Christian Fellowship Baptist Church on May 28, 1996 where he served faithfully rendering services in various capacity until he was called of God to affiliate in the eternal temple not made with hands but eternal in the heaven. His faithfulness and dedicated services were unparalleled. He supported every program within the church and the body of Christ at large. He entered into the Master’s Joy on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 in Port Arthur, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Foreman "Younce" Knatt and Eva Fontnette; three sons, Lionel Knatt Jr., Jabori Knatt and Chuckie Graves; one daughter, Marcia Y. Johnson; one brother, Percy Knatt.
He leaves to cherish his precious memory his loving and devoted wife Camella O’Brien Knatt; eight daughters, Anita Baker, Latania Harrison, Jasmine Knatt, Carolyn Jones, Tina Knatt Nicole Knatt, Brenda and Linda Knatt; six sons, Alonzo Knatt, Chance O’Brien, De’Angelo Graves, Gralyn Williams, Tarius Pitre, and Michael Jones; three sisters, Hazel Narcisse, Anita Sanders and Rita "Glenda" Gilliam; two brothers, Alvin F. Knatt and George Knatt; step-father, Tommy L. Naulings; mother- in-law, Opal Gray; three brother-in-laws, Joseph Narcisse, Russell Evans and Charles O’Brien; three sister-in-laws, Savannah Knatt, Denise Evans and Vera Evan; two son-in-laws, Harold Baker and Kenny Ray Harrison; twenty grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; special friends, Gerald Hatch, Kermit Morrison, Stella Morrison "His Big Sister", Eddie Collins and Fred Voorhies.
He also leaves to mourn his passing numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 20, 2006 from 9:00 am - 11:00 am with funeral services immediately following at 11:00 am at Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, 3439 Thomas Blvd., Port Arthur, TX.
Hannah Funeral Home, 3727 Lewis Drive, Port Arthur, TX 77640 983-4538
Allen Wilson, Sr.
PORT ARTHUR - Allen Wilson Sr. of Port Arthur, Texas, 55 years old, passed away. He was born April 22, 1951 and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1970 and later graduated Lamar State College. Allen was a resident of Port Arthur for 55 years and was known for his kind heart and talkative nature. His survivors include 1 son, Allen Wilson Jr. (25) of Port Arthur; 3 daughters, Melissa M. Wilson (23) of Houston, TX, Ashley M. Wilson (21) of Beaumont, TX and Raeisha O. Wilson (19) of Port Arthur; one brother, Albert Wilson and sister-in- law, Leona Nell Wilson of Beaumont, TX; one sister, Betty Wilson-Ortega of Port Arthur; and long time friends, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Riley. The late Morrison and Olivia Wilson preceded him in death. Services will be held at Little Flower Catholic Church located at 6412 Grant Avenue, Port Arthur, TX (Port Acres) on Wednesday December 20th with Father Anthony Moozhikuzhy. Wake will be held from 9-11:00 a.m. with services immediately following. Burial will be held at Greenlawn Cemetery following services. Directions to church: Coming from Highway 365 on West Port Arthur Road, make a right near the Family Dollar and continue to follow street to Garnet.
Helen Schiwart Henderson
PORT ARTHUR - Helen Schiwart Henderson passed away on December 16, 2006. She was born in 1918 in Thorndale, TX to John and Helena Schiwart. She has resided in Port Arthur since 1924. She attended Trinity Lutheran School, graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, and completed Port Arthur Business College. She was a secretary at Gulf Oil before becoming a homemaker. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
She is survived by her husband, Lewis; a daughter, Karen; a granddaughter, Trisha Simoneaux and her husband, Pastor Brandon Simoneaux; and a great-granddaughter, Janie. She also is survived by a sister, Louise Laurents and her family; a brother, Johnny Schiwart and wife, Pat and his family; and a brother-in-law, Tom Henderson and family; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Funeral Home with Pastor Timothy Dinger officiating. Burial will be at Green Lawn Memorial Park.
Mary L. Sevison
MADISON - Mary L. Sevison, died December 14, 2006. Survived by husband, Elwood Sevison; son E.F. "Chip" (Vanessa) Sevison, Jr. of Beaumont, Texas; daughters, Linda (Jesse) Harrison of Irving, Texas, Candace (Max) Hoene, Exeter, N. H., Bonnie Cuthbertson of Madison, Tennessee; brother, F. E. Yeakel of Port Arthur, Texas; sister, Ruth (Glenn) Park of Nederland, Texas; 5 grandchildren; 3 great- grandchildren.
There are no services planned at this time. Madison Funeral Home(615)868-9020 "Where Feelings Count the Most."
Elton "Goat" Gothia, Jr.
PORT ARTHUR - Elton "Goat" Gothia Jr., 74, of Port Arthur, Texas died Sunday, December 17, 2006 at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas.
Elton was born on August 12, 1932 in Port Arthur, Texas to Elton Joseph Gothia, Sr. and Blanche Landry Gothia. He was a lifelong Port Arthur resident and graduated from Bishop Byrne High School. He was an avid and well-known baseball player in this area. He retired as an operator from Texaco after 44 years of service. He was a member of the Local AFL-CIO.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 19, 2006 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Reverend D. Stephen McCrate officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Levingston Funeral Home in Groves. Visitation was held on Monday, December 18, 2006 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Survivors include his wife, Irene Perrone Gothia of Port Arthur, TX; daughters, Lu Anne Gothia of San Antonio, TX, Vickie Lewis of Port Arthur, TX, Barbara Gothia Umphrey and husband Tom of Port Arthur, TX; son, Nicky Louis Gothia of Crosby, TX; sister, Sr. Blanche Gothia, O.P. of Houston, TX; brother-in-law, and sister-in-law, Rudy and Mary Ann Trahan; grandchildren, Angela Gothia, Keeli Gothia, Krista Umphrey, Bo Joseph Umphrey and John Steven Lewis II; great-granddaughter, Avery Lozano; nephews, Dr. Leonard Trahan, Michael Trahan and Tony Trahan.
Pallbearers will be Rudy Trahan, Bo Umphrey, Dr. Leonard Trahan, Hunter Crorey, Michael Trahan, and Tony Trahan. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jacky Merchant, Len Trahan, Cody Joe Trahan, John Steven Lewis II, and Dalton Trahan.
Marilyn Joyce Dorsey
PORT ARTHUR - Marilyn Joyce Dorsey, 72, of Port Arthur died Saturday, December 16, 2006 at her residence. Funeral services were held Monday, December 18th at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. Burial followed at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Port Arthur with Reverend Bennie Patillo officiating. Arrangements under the direction of Levingston Funeral Home in Groves.
Marilyn was born on March 22, 1935 in Port Arthur, TX to Lawrence and Leona Leopold. She retired as an RN from Park Place Hospital and 29 years later, retired from Port Arthur Independent School District as a school nurse.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Elmo C. Dorsey; her parents; and her sister, Carolyn Cascio.
She is survived by her daughter, Lauri Hampshire of Groves; her sons, John Dorsey and wife, Mary of Lewisville and Matt Dorsey of Fort Sill, OK; grandchildren, Cody Hampshire and wife, Brittney of The Woodlands, Nicholas Hampshire of College Station and Madelyn Eades-Dorsey of New York; her sisters, Evelyn and Ellyn Leopold of Fort Worth, and a host of relatives and friends.
Marilyn’s love for family and her dedicated knowledge was always free.
The school nurse who helped each child in need,
going beyond to clothe and feed.
Her love for life and everything,
sweet echoes of our mother and friend will forever ring.
