Margaret Holbrook
PORT ARTHUR - Margaret Holbrook, 93, of Port Arthur passed away Sunday, December 17, 2006, at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas.
Services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, December 20, 2006, at Grammier-Oberle Funeral Home in Port Arthur with Rev. Don Donahugh officiating. 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 19, 2006, with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Margaret was born on August 14, 1913 in McGregor, Texas one of ten children born to Mary Desmond Lynch and Nicholas Lynch. She was a former member of St. James Catholic Church and St. Catherine Catholic Church both in Port Arthur; she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
Survivors include her husband of sixty-three years, John W. Holbrook of Port Arthur; daughter, Barbara Cropper and her husband Richard of Port Neches; grandchildren, Terri Laughlin and her husband Randy of Groves and Richard James Cropper and his wife Angela of Groves; great-grandchildren, Krystle Laughlin, Kassie Laughlin and Kody Cropper all of Groves; several nieces and nephews and friends who will miss her dearly.
Christian F. Petersen, Jr.
GROVES - Christian F. Petersen, Jr., of Groves, Texas died Sunday, December 17, 2006 at his residence. Christian was born October 20, 1923 in Port Arthur, Texas to Christian F. Petersen, Sr. and Alicia Swain Petersen. He was a lifelong area resident and member of the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. He was a retired Master Ship Captain from Texaco Marine. He was a member of the Cosmopolitan Lodge #872, a 32nd degree Scottish Rite and also a member of the El Mina Temple. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant with Dr. Clay Faulk and Reverend J.B. Prouse officiating.
Survivors include his wife, Vera L. Petersen of Groves, Texas; daughters, Karen Willis and husband Bill of Harker Heights, Texas, Laura Fanese and husband, Rennie of Beaumont, Texas; son, Christian Petersen, III and wife, Loraine of Katy, Texas; sisters-in-law, Mable Nelson of Port Arthur, Texas and Mildred Petersen of Waycross, Georgia; brother, Donald Petersen of Groves, Texas; grandchildren, Kimberly Coates and husband, Greig, Elizabeth Lane and husband, Hoppy, Jillian Petersen, Alicia Burke and husband, Josh, Elaena Swanton and husband, Jeremy, Katie Wooten and husband, Stevie; ten great-grandchildren; three nephews; and two nieces.
Friends wishing, may send memorial contributions to: Presbyterian Church of the Covenant; 1645 Jefferson Drive, Port Arthur, Texas, 77642 or charity of choice. No flowers please.
Joe T. Goetschius
VIDOR - Joe T. Goetschius, Jr., 77, of Vidor, Texas, passed away peacefully at his home Saturday, December 16, 2006 surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. Graveside services will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park at 4:00 pm. A gathering of family and friends will be Tuesday, December 19, 2006 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the mortuary.
Joe was born in Galveston, Texas, March 15, 1929 to Beatrice and Joe Goetschius, Sr. and grew up in Port Arthur. After graduating from Lamar State College he worked for ten years for the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. In 1965, he was named the Executive Vice- President of the Young Men’s Business League, serving for thirty-one years before his retirement in 1996. Known as "Mr. YMBL" by many, he was an invaluable guiding force behind the YMBL’s many charitable and civic events including the annual South Texas State Fair and the YMBL Rodeo. He was a familiar face and well-respected by his many friends in the community. Joe loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them, especially in his retirement years. He was a fan of golf, Western art, John Wayne, Elvis Presley and Judge Judy. Quick-witted, with a great sense of humor, he loved to laugh.
Throughout his life, he was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by the love of his life, Jeanne, his wife of fifty-five years; five children, Bobby Goetschius of Beaumont, Dianne Thomas and husband David of Vidor, Cheryl Goetschius Herman and husband Guy of Sunland, California, Jack Goetschius and wife Diane of Beaumont and Debra Goetschius of Los Angeles, California; seven grandchildren, Brent Thomas and wife Debra, Alane Thomas, Katrina, Keila, Karley and Kalley Goetschius and Taylor Goetschius Herman; great-grandson, Bradley Thomas; and sister, Betty Hawkins and husband Arthur of Port Arthur. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Alice Brice.
Serving as pallbearers will be H.M. Nix, Willis Reed, John Powell, Ed Burks, Judge Richard LeBlanc, Tommy Leicht, Dan Rogas and Emil Weaver. Honorary pallbearers will be Howard Hicks of Alief, Texas and Jerry Bean of Port Arthur.
Mary Lynn Clark
Lynn Clark died December 14, 2006 in Palm Springs, CA at the age of 73. Lynn was born in Beaumont, but lived in Port Arthur for many years. She had been a resident of San Jacinto, CA since 1991.
She is survived by her husband, Roy Clark; son, Craig Clark; daughter, Laura Nelson; her mother, Nora Towell; and 5 grandchildren. Lynn was preceded in death by her son, Sanford (Sandy) Clark; her daughter Debra Clark Figueroa; and grandson, Andrew Clark. A memorial service will be held at First Southern Baptist Church of Hemet, CA on Wednesday, December 20th, 2006 at 3 PM.
Percy Joseph Villemez, Sr.
PORT ACRES - It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Percy Joseph Villemez, Sr., of Port Acres, Texas.
Percy died Sunday, December 17, 2006 at Clear Lake Regional Hospital in Webster, Texas after a long and courageous battle. Percy was born on August 26, 1941 to Claude Pierre Villemez Sr. and Norine Miller Villemez in Port Arthur, Texas. He attended Stephen F. Austin High School and was a phenomenal football player and lived life to the fullest. It is in Port Acres that he met one of his lifelong best friends, Bert Miller. Dad told us, you have to have a handful. What he was talking about were five friends, not acquaintances, but best friends of which Bert was one. The others were his brother, Claude Villemez, Jr. lovingly referred to as Claude Jr. or Kid, Peanut Randle, Gloria Miller, and Shirley Jeanis. To each of you we thank you. We could not have made it without you. Percy was a hard worker and worked many years in an area refinery until he stepped up and began living his dream. He bought the old Stelly’s Convenience Store in Port Acres in 1979 and began lovingly molding it into Percy’s Cafe’ and Convenience Store along with several other businesses. This is where the true Percy came to life. Along with THE best cooking came an atmosphere of fun, jokes and camaraderie. Percy could light up a room with his mere presence and make people feel comfortable and at ease the moment he met them and was always telling jokes. His jokes, oh my goodness how we will miss that!
Percy is survived by his children Percy Joseph Villemez Jr. aka Joey or Moon and wife Bernadette, Joni Villemez-Comeaux and husband Jay, and Jan Villemez- Brooks aka Abear and husband Jim. Grandchildren are Percy Joseph Villemez III aka Trey, Lindsey Villemez, Kaylynn Villemez, PJ Norman and fiancee’ Britney Abshire, Lennon Comeaux, Melissa Naylor, Tonya Vela and husband Armando and Jody Sripongs and the mother of his children, Martha Terry. Also his brothers, Claude Villemez Jr. and Ronnie Villemez.
Services will be held at 7;00 p.m., Wednesday, December 20, 2006 at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home with visitation from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Pop, you can count on us to continue living out lives with the fierce independence you instilled in us through example. "First see you right then do it" was your favorite quote and will continue to be our family motto. We will always remember you as our true hero.
Bob Britt Kirkland
NEDERLAND - Bob Britt Kirkland, 78, of Nederland, passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at Southeast Texas Medical Center in Port Arthur. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday, September 25, 2006 in the Chapel of Broussard's Mortuary in Nederland with Rev. Randy Carrion officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens in Nederland. A gathering of family and friends will be from 5 to 8 PM Sunday, September 24, 2006 at the mortuary. Mr. Kirkland was born in Carson, Mississippi and raised in Mosselle, Mississippi and lived in Nederland for over 49 years. He was retired from Texas A& M Research Department for the USDA with 29 years of service. Bob served his country in the Mississippi National Guard before serving active duty in the U.S. Army.
Mr. Kirkland was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Ruby Joyce Green Kirkland. Bob is survived by his daughter, Ann Elizabeth Kirkland McQuhae of Nederland; sons, Jeffrey Britt Kirkland and wife Claudia Ann of Cranston, Rhode Island; grandson, George Allen McQuhae of Nederland; sister-in-law, Peggy Menard and husband Lawrence of Nederland; sister-in-law, Jeannie and Barney Green of Nederland; niece, Esther Outlaw and husband Charles of West, Mississippi.
Donna Harris
GROVES - Donna Harris, 72, of Groves, Texas died Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at Cypress Glen Nursing Home. Donna was born on March 4, 1934 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Herbert W. Harkins and Theresa Roan Harkins. She was lifelong area resident and retired sales clerk and delivery person for Sylvia’s Florist for over 20 years. She was also a member of Trinity Baptist Church.
A visitation will be held on Friday, September 22, 2006 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves, Texas. A private graveside service will be at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Survivors include her daughter, Deborah Ann Portillo and husband, Joe of Port Arthur, Texas; son, David Bryan Harris and wife, Brenda of Houston, Texas; brother, Jerry Borel of Port Arthur, Texas; grandchildren, Natasha Lea Harris, Brooke Lynn Harris, Katrina Portillo, and Joseph Portillo; great-grandchildren, Theotis Crawford, Jr., Edward Morgan II, Kashmire Morgan, Ryleigh Harris, and Jordan Harris.
Bulah Mae Tezeno
"Even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." - Psalms 23:4
PORT ARTHUR - Bulah Mae Tezeno, of Port Arthur, died Saturday, September 16, 2006 at DuBuis Hospital. A native of Washington, LA, where she accepted Christ at an early age, she was a resident of Port Arthur for 62 years. Bulah was a faithful member of First Sixth Baptist Church and prior to her health challenges, she was actively involved as a member of the Deborah Circle.
"Nan" will always be remembered by her family and friends for her warm and friendly smile and her jovial laughter-even while experiencing her health challenges. When we think of her, we can smile or even laugh at something she said or did, for " Nan" always had a quick and ready wit.
Visitation is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 23, 2006 at First Sixth Street Baptist Church. Services is scheduled 10:00 a.m. at the church with Rev. Dennis Hubbard officiating. Burial will follow in Green Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Gabriel Funeral Home.
Mrs. Tezeno was preceded in death by husband, Clifton Tezeno, Sr.; son Billy Tezeno; parents, Frank and Opelia Fontenot; sister Tema Roman; brothers Moses Fontenot, Henry Fontenot, and Thomas Fontenot; and niece Mary Ann Roman.
Survivors include daughters, Ruby Young (James), Port Arthur, TX, Linda Tezeno (Wayne), Irving, TX, Ruthie Tezeno (Jack), Arlington, TX; son, Clifton Tezeno (Pamela), Port Arthur, TX; brother, Emile Fontenot, Opelousas, LA; grandchildren, Brian Young (Tameisha), Quentin Tezeno, Douglas Benton, and Katoya Harris; several great-grandchildren, Ryya Young, Brian Keith Young JR., Brnya Young, Boiree Young, and Jayla Dixon; In-laws, Beatrice Fontenot, Margaret King and Wildred Levine; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives; and also very special family friends, Adeline Insell, Shanna Frances, and Freddie Wilson.
A very special thanks to Tequila Frances, Elaine Watson, Cynthia Ballou, and Shilo Dumas for their special care they gave her during her illness.
