Joe Gore

Joe Earl Gore, 63, of Crow Mountain in Russellville, Arkansas died Sunday, April 29, 2012 in Arizona.

A native of Palestine, Texas, he retired from West Hills College maintenance department in Coalinga, California. Joe loved pursuing the Gore’s genealogy.

Joe Earl was preceded in death by his father, Travis Gore of Avenal, California; and his brother, Travis Lynn Gore, also of Avenal, California.

Survivors include his mother, Jo Helen Moore Gore of Avenal, California; wife, Susan Gore of Russellville, Arkansas; sons, Jason Edward Gore and wife Stacey and Robert French, all of Silsbee; daughter, Krystal Gore Flagg and husband Rick of Russellville; brother, Jerry Gore and wife Bonnie of Dallas; sisters, Martha Vaughn and husband Dale and Donna Krumb, all of Avenal, California; grandchildren, Travis Gore of Sanger, Texas, Dorian Flagg and Ricky Flagg, both of Russellville, Dalton French of Grand Prairie, Texas, and Ashley, Abby and Jody Buckley, all of Silsbee; and numerous nieces and nephews.

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James Williams

James Joseph Williams went to meet the Lord on May 4, 2012.  He was at home with his family at his side.     

Born in Oakwood, Texas James, was a longtime resident of Silsbee.  He was a retired truck driver and he served his country with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Funeral services for James Joseph Williams, 77, of Silsbee will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 10, 2012 at Farmer Funeral Home with interment following with Masonic Graveside at Franks Branch Cemetery in Fred.  Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. Wednesday (today) at the funeral home.

Survivors include daughters, Judy Jones of Beaumont Colony and Melissa Lewis of Kountze; brothers, Utah Carroll Williams and Mark H. Williams, both of San Angelo; five grandchildren Todd Palmer and Cody Jones, both of Orange, Cassidi Jones and Kelsey Lewis, both of Beaumont and Sarah Lewis of Kountze; and one great grandchild, Allee Palmer of Orange.

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Evan Lemons Sr.

Evan Rene Lemons Sr., 87, of Silsbee, died Sunday, May 6, 2012 at his home.

Funeral service was held at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday, May 9) at the First Baptist Church in Silsbee under the direction of Farmer Funeral Home with burial following in Davis Cemetery in Beulah Springs.

A native of Teneha and a longtime resident of Silsbee, he retired from Center Point Energy and was a United States Army Corp World War II veteran. He was also a pilot and had served as Fire Chief with the Liberty Fire Department.

Survivors include his wife, Norma Lemons of Silsbee; sons, Evan Rene “Buzz” Lemons Jr. of Silsbee and Norman Bruce Lemons and wife Belinda of Dayton; daughter, Linda Marie Edwards and husband Dale of Onalaska; and eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

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Joyce Hopkins

Joyce Kirgan Hopkins, 93, of Silsbee died May 7, 2012 at her home.  She was born on November 15, 1918 in Fairfield, Texas, the 10th child of Eugenia Childs Kirgan and Lee Colby Kirgan.  Her twin sister, Joy Gleason of Dallas, preceded her in death at the age of 90.  Joyce married Newton Hopkins April 6, 1946.  She and Newton were married 63 years when he passed away in February, 2009.

A 1940 graduate of Texas State College for Women (currently known as Texas Women's University), Mrs. Hopkins began her teaching career in New London, Texas.  She taught 2nd grade and 5th grade in the Silsbee Independent School District until retirement.  Joyce brought the first New Orleans style snow cone business to the Silsbee area around 1976.  She was a member of First Baptist Church in Silsbee for 63 years.  Mrs. Hopkins and her husband enjoyed gardening and developing a bird sanctuary at their home.  Because of her family background as a pioneer newspaper family in Texas, she maintained a keen interest in current events and politics.

Joyce is remembered in love by her children Joy Crenshaw and husband Will of Beaumont, Jane Lakey and husband Robert of Silsbee, Newton Hopkins Jr. of Silsbee and Lynn McKim and husband Jimmy of Silsbee and her grandchildren, Heather Petkovsek and husband Mark, Will Crenshaw and fiancé' Beverly Meehan, Casey Crenshaw and wife Stacey, Colby Crenshaw and wife Gina, Eugenia Brotherton and husband Greg, Newton Hopkins III and wife Monica, Kirgan Hopkins, Caroline Landry and husband Bryce, James McKim IV and wife Lauren and Elizabeth McKim.  She is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren with two more due this summer.

Her style and grace brought beauty to all that she did - a vase of flowers, a table setting, a scarf on her dress.  She faithfully instructed the important truths of life to children in her classroom and in her home.  Joyce taught about the beauty in nature, to be discerning, to have a lifelong love of learning and reading, the importance of manners, to be gracious, respectful and honest; lessons that serve us well in life.  She will be remembered for her deep love for her family, her endearing smile and graciousness that drew people to her.

Joyce's quiet but strong faith sustained her through her long life.  In her last weeks, she was comforted by old hymns and by readings of Psalm 103, her favorite Psalm.  The family wishes to thank the loving caretakers who provided extraordinary support, prayers and daily readings of her scriptures to her.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, May 11, 2012, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Farmer Funeral Home, 415 N. 4th Street in Silsbee.

A graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 12, 2012 at RS Farmer Memorial Cemetery in the 600 block of S. 3rd Street in Silsbee.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Silsbee, 350 Hwy 96 S, Silsbee, TX 77656, Ice House Museum, 818 Ernest Avenue, Silsbee, TX 77656 or the Silsbee Public Library, 295 N 4th Street, Silsbee, TX 77656.

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Barbara Schneider-Long

Barbara Jeane Schneider-Long, 60, of Silsbee, previously of Lumberton, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, May 5, 2012.  She worked in the banking industry for 33 plus years before her 4-year battle with cancer.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Barbara loved gardening, birds and her dog, Justin.  She could grow anything and everything.  But, most of all, she loved her grandchildren with a passion.  She attended every sports game, award ceremony, concert and any other event whenever she could.  Even during her cancer treatments, she still made sure to get to as many events as she could.  She loved the holidays and slumber parties with her grandkids.

She is preceded in death by her father, Charles Herzog.  

She is survived by her husband, Nelson E. Long of Silsbee; son, Christopher Schneider of Lumberton; daughters and sons-in-law, Bridget and Kevin Jones of Lumberton and Mandy and Chase Cormier of Cypress, Texas; stepsons and daughter-in-law, Matthew Long and Mason and Kristen Long; grandchildren, Angela Schneider, Hailee and Cody Jones, Hunter Filson, and Colin and Anderson Cormier.  She is also survived by her mother, Gertrude Herzog of Temple, Texas; father-in-law, Nelson Long of Silsbee; brother and sister-in-law, Alvin and Margaret Herzog; sisters, Carolyn Wood and Judy Wilson; and her best friend, Dana Rice.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at Farmer Funeral Home with interment following at R.S. Farmer Memorial Cemetery.  Visitation began at 5 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers were Matthew Long, Mason Long, Kevin Jones, Cody Jones, Chase Cormier and Hunter Filson.  Honorary pallbearer was Colin Cormier.  

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Geraldine Kowalis

Geraldine A. Kowalis, 69, died May 6, 2012.

Cremation arrangements are being handled by Broussard’s Crematorium.

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Willie Wright

Willie Edmond Wright, 87, of Jasper and a native of Evadale, died Monday, May 7, 2012 at Shady Acres Health and Rehabilitation in Newton.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12 at Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee with burial following in Cunningham Cemetery, also in Silsbee. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Survivors include son, Billy Wright and wife Jessica of Evadale; daughters, Charlotte Gregg and husband Cliff of Washington, Rebecca West and husband Kenneth of Jasper and Joan Herring and husband Rickey of Fort Worth; sister, Jean Shutte of Sealy; and eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

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Alice Crosley

Alice Irene Crosley, 66, of Silsbee, died Friday, May 4, 2012 at her home.

A memorial service was held Sunday, May 6 at Broussard’s Mortuary in Silsbee. Cremation arrangements are being handled under the direction of Broussard’s Crematorium.

Survivors include sons, Michael Thompson and wife Jennifer of Buna, Martin Thompson and wife Roxy of Mauriceville, and Aaron Carpenter and wife Tina of Jackson, Mississippi; mother, Irene Moor; sisters, Carolyn Lovelady of Reklaw and Mariam Fitzgerald of Silsbee; and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

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Nona Robertson

Nona Robertson, 96, of Silsbee, died Monday, May 7, 2012 in Silsbee.

Graveside service was held at 10 a.m. today (Wednesday, May 9) at Friendship Cemetery in Roganville under the direction of Broussard’s Mortuary in Silsbee.

A native of Kender, Louisiana, she had lived in Silsbee 65 years.

Survivors include her sons, James Dodson and wife Gloria of Lumberton and Cuyler Dodson and wife Ruthie of Willis; and four grandchildren and one great-grandchildren.

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James Bean

James E. Bean, 86, of Silsbee, died Sunday, May 6, 2012 at his home.

Funeral service was held Tuesday, May 8 at Broussard’s Mortuary in Silsbee with burial following in Antioch Cemetery in Buna.

He had lived in the area since 1963 and was a plant operator for Petrochemical. He was also a United States Army veteran.

Survivors include his sons, Jay Bean and wife Darlene of Silsbee and Charles Bean and wife Dierdra; and nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

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Dimple Read

Dimple Colleps Read, 91, of Beaumont died Monday, May 7, 2012 at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont.

Survivors include her husband, Lawrence Read; son, Wayne Kluna and wife Betty; brothers, Dale and Derrell Colleps; and nine grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and eight great great-grandchildren.

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John Brekel Jr.

John Nicholas Brekel Jr., 53, of Kountze, died Saturday, May 5, 2012 at his home.

Funeral was held Tuesday, May 8 at Broussard’s Mortuary in Silsbee. Cremation arrangements are being handled by Broussard’s Crematorium.

He had lived in the area 18 years and was an instrument supervisor for Exxon Mobile and a Master Mason with Sour Lake Lodge 1002. He was also a United States Marine veteran.

Survivors include his wife, Vickie Brekel; children, Lorrie Hoke and husband Gerald of Kountze, Larry Carter Jr. of Houston, Shawn Carter and wife Gene and Shannon Overstreet and husband David, all of Kountze, Leslie Summerville of Los Angeles, California and John Summerville and wife Britini of Palestine; mother, Linda Jenkins of Beaumont; brothers, Mike Brekel and Patrick Brekel, both of Beaumont; sister, Theresa Ramey of Nederland; stepmother, Linda Brekel of West Texas; and 11 grandchildren.   

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Brandi McClelland

Brandi Nicole McClelland, 30, a lifelong resident of Silsbee, died Sunday, April 29, 2012 in Houston.

Funeral service was held Monday, May 7 at Broussard’s Mortuary in Silsbee with burial following in R.S. Farmer Cemetery, also in Silsbee.

Survivors include her husband, Kevin McClelland; children, Logan, Aspen, and Madison McClelland; father, Bobby Cheshire of Silsbee; brothers, Bubba Cheshire and Bear Cheshire, both of Silsbee; and sisters, Darla Shaffer and Ashlea Kelley, both of Silsbee.

An account has been set up at Wells Fargo for those wishing to donate to Brandi’s funeral expenses. The account number is 2350112856.