Forest Lawn

Oris Durelle Vaughn of Beaumont, Texas passed away on Monday, May 23, 2022 at the age of 94. Oris was born October 16, 1927 in Tippo, Mississippi. In 1945, Oris enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Germany, ultimately attaining the rank of Sergeant. After returning home, Oris earned a civil engineering degree from Louisiana State University in 1954. Although he remained a lifelong loyal LSU Tiger fan, Oris moved to Texas upon graduation, working his entire career in the Golden Triangle area and retiring from Synpol, Inc. in 1986. In 1958, Oris married Jeannette Wright Vaughn at the church where they first met, First United Methodist Church in Beaumont. Jeannette and Oris...

Norman Duren, beloved son, brother, uncle, great uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Norman was 75 years old. Norman was born on September 9, 1946, in Beaumont, Texas, to the late Dr. Norman Duren and Edwina Murray Duren. Norman graduated from Southwestern University with a degree in Spanish and went on to obtain a Master's in Library Science at the University of Texas in 1968. He was a former Cataloger at University of Texas Medical Branch Moody Medical Library in Galveston, Texas from 1972-1984. He dearly loved his time working in the medical library and had a love for books. Norman is survived in death by sister-in-law the Hon. Anne Ashby (Ret);...

Barry Brent Doss, 46 years old, of Beaumont Texas passed away on Sunday, February 6, 2022 from complications after having COVID. Brent was born on September 2, 1975 in Houston Texas to parents Barry James Doss and Ruby Gail Lawson Doss. He was a lifelong resident of Beaumont Texas. He was a Recovery Coach for people recovering from addiction and he was a dedicated member of Impact Church. He loved helping people and his mission in life was helping others through their recovery journey. He loved the Dallas Cowboys and would always show off his Cowboy Pride. He loved listening to contemporary Christian Music and sharing the word of God to anyone who would talk to him. Brent was a loving son...

Helen "Pet" Gerson, 86, of Beaumont, Texas, passed away Monday, January 24, 2022. Born to Connie Marshall Mellard, Sr. and Pauline Watts Mellard on June 7, 1935 in West Monroe, Louisiana, she was her parent's favorite "Pet" as a child. Pet was a loving and supportive wife to her late husband, Judge Al Gerson. She stood by his side faithfully in both their private and public lives, and served as President of the Jefferson County Bar Association Auxiliary. Pet adored her three grandchildren; always excited to learn of their next accomplishment, she tirelessly ensured that they were never in want or need. Pet loved her family, and had a very special and close relationship with her siblings....

Lora Zee Lee, 85, quietly passed away Friday, January 21, 2022. She was born on a cool day in Opelousas, Louisiana on October 2,1936. She lived and raised her 2 sons, Joseph Melvin Jr. and Carl Wayne Melvin, in Beaumont for most of her life. She was in her Beaumont home when she lost her fight to complications associated with dementia. Lora was a wondrous, talented matriarch who traveled to the frigid north of Alaska to the warm turquoise waters of Hawaii and many places in between. She was an adventurer, dancer, fashionista, accomplished seamstress, master story-teller and all around Renaissance woman! Many neighbors in Beaumont knew her for her laughter and kindness. She always had time...

Linda Sue Durmon was born on November 30, 1946 in Beaumont, Texas. She attended French High School, and she went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at St. Elizabeth Hospital. She and her husband of 56 years, Jerry, resided in Beaumont. Linda graduated from Lamar University in August 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and received her Master of Education in Administration on May 14, 1994. Linda worked as an elementary educator, beginning her career in the Beaumont Independent School District as a Special Education Teacher's Aide in 1974. In 1980 she accepted a position in the Vidor Independent School District where she would ultimately spend...

Gene Allen VanMeter went to meet his heavenly father on December 9, 2021. He was born in Beaumont, Texas on November 30, 1931 to Ethan and Annie Lee VanMeter. Gene graduated from South Park High School in 1949 and married his high school sweetheart and next door neighbor Barbara L. Perry in 1951. They made their home together in Beaumont, where they raised their two sons, Gene, Jr. and Steve. Gene was a Korean War Veteran, serving in the U.S. Army. After returning to Beaumont. He attended Lamar State College and graduated in 1963 with a B.S. in Business Administration. He also attended the IBEW-NECA Electrical Apprenticeship School and became an Instructor for over 20 years and a...

William McKinley Sutton ("Billy") of Beaumont, passed away peacefully Thursday November 18, 2021, at St. Elizabeth hospital at the age of 60 after a lengthy illness. Billy was born January 28, 1961, in Beaumont to Raymond and Mildred (Allen) Sutton. Known as "Billy" by family and friends, he spent his childhood and early adult years living in Lumberton where he graduated from high school in 1979. William was an avid entrepreneur of several enterprises during his life. He enjoyed raising and training his dogs, music, singing and entertaining friends and family. Billy enjoyed writing poetry - one such article was God's Striped soldier which was written after 911, copyrighted, and sent to the...

Elizabeth Ann Adkisson of Woodville, Texas was born June 21, 1943 to Ed and Ouida Walker Adkisson. She passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at her home in Woodville, Texas after a brief battle with cancer. She is survived by her beloved cousins, friends, and pets-dogs "Jazz" and "Sadie" as well as her cats "Omama" and "Gracie". She was a brilliant student and made the Dean's List of each university she attended. After college she taught performing arts in Sacramento, California, Ashland, Oregon and Birmingham, Alabama. She took a personal interest in seeing that her young friends and relatives received an education. She loved singing, dancing, acting, gardening,...

Archie Thomas Brisendine Jr., age 88, of Lumberton, Texas passed away on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Archie was born June 29, 1933 in Wright, Texas to Archie and Ila Brisendine. Archie was preceded in death by his wife Joan in 2019. Survivors include his sons, Andy Brisendine and his wife Patricia, Ron Brisendine and his wife Kim, Tim Brisendine and his wife Brenda; brother, Ted Brisendine; 10 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson. The family will receive friends at Forest Lawn Funeral Home starting at 1:00 PM, on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Graveside Services will be conducted at 2:00 PM, on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park with Rev. Jeff Lowe...

Beverly Ann Harrel, born February 13, 1938 in Bedford, Ohio, where she lived with a doting multigenerational Italian family. Beverly always said, "I feel so blessed to have been raised by them in a culture that was full of Italian traditions and of course, great Italian food." Her mother, Mary Delores Lalli, married John McLaughlin, adopting her at age 9 and moving to Twinsburg, Ohio. At 13, they moved to Krebs, Oklahoma. At 18 she met a handsome Marine, Richard Harrel, and they married August 17, 1956. They had an Italian family wedding with a spaghetti dinner afterwards. Richard pursued education getting his PhD in Biology. They settled in Beaumont in 1966 where Richard taught at Lamar...

Patricia Swift Robert was born July 18, 1933 in Nacogdoches, Texas to Luther Swift and Patsy Birdwell. She had an older brother Luther Swift Jr and younger sister Sylvia Besing. She left us on the morning of September 21, 2021. After attending Stephen F. Austin College, she met her husband William Pierre Robert Jr in Houston, where she taught 3rd grade at Southland Elementary. Pierre was a medical student at Baylor University when they married on August 17, 1957 before moving to Beaumont in 1962 to join his father in his private pediatrics practice at The Children's Cottage. Early in Beaumont life, Patricia became an active member of the Junior League and made many long-lasting friends in...

Rita Ann Chavez Cerda Guerrero was born on May 22, 1931 on the Apache Reservation in Anadarko, OK. She spent most of her life in Oklahoma, California, and Texas. Rita is survived by her sons Henry Cerda, Gerald "Toddy" Cerda, Raymond Cerda; her daughter Angel Guerrero; and her honorary daughter Kimberly Marks, as well as 22 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren. Rita was preceded in death by her husband Raymond Clark Cerda Sr.; her daughter Edna Cerda Aguire, her son Paul Guerrero and her son Anthony Joe Cerda. A Gathering of Family and Friends for Rita will be held Monday, September 13, 2021 at 4:00 PM at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, 4955 Pine Street,...

Mary "Kay" Catherine (Bryant) Bounds, age 77, of Beaumont, Texas passed away on Thursday, August 26, 2021. Kay was born January 15,1944 in Beaumont, Texas to William Ricks Bryant, Sr and Mary Catherine Buteaud Bryant. Kay grew up in Beaumont and was a part of the last class to graduate from St. Anthony High School in 1961. She was married to her husband, Elliott Bounds, in 1964 at St. Anthony Cathedral. Together, they raised 3 wonderful daughters. Kay was a key punch operator for Gulf States, as well as a sales consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics. Kay was a great wife, mother, and friend. She enjoyed playing bridge and poker, taking any opportunity she could to visit the casinos. She and...

David L. "Roy" Pool, a lifelong resident of Lumberton, TX passed away on Thursday, Aug 19. He was born in Groveton, TX on January 27, 1924. Roy as he was known to many is preceded in death by his wife, Earline, of 71 years. He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Turner, (Ronnie), and his sons, Terry Pool (JJ), David Pool, Dan Pool and his girlfriend, March. Also his Grandchildren Jake, Roy, Stephanie, Tyler, Danielle Pool and 4 Great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Aug 24, 5-7pm at Forest Lawn Funeral Home and a celebration of life will be held Wed, Aug 25, 10AM at the Halls of Serenity Mausoleum at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont. In lieu of flowers...

Joy L. Frederick, 85, of Beaumont, died Friday, August 6, 2021 with her family at her bedside. Joy was a longtime resident of Beaumont, it's where she married her childhood sweetheart Jackie when she was 17. Her and Jackie raised their two children and with their big hearts for family took in a few other children at different times throughout their life as their own. Joy was a women of many talents. She was a seamstress by trade and a homemaker. She sewed many of her children's clothes growing up. Her and Jackie shared the love of cooking and also opened J and J concessions stand at Larry's Old Time Trade Days. Their grand children remember the nostalgia of coming to help and sneaking...

Lillie Ruth "Jerri" Brooks Stroud, 100, passed away Wednesday, July 14, 2021, at Brookdale Assisted Living in Beaumont, Texas. She was born and grew up in a rural community near Eastland, Texas. As a young adult, she moved to San Diego, California where she met and married her husband, Earl Stroud. They were married for 44 years. Lillie was a homemaker and a very talented seamstress. She taught herself to sew and made all her daughters' clothes. Later, she began sewing for the public, where she made many treasured friendships. Along with sewing, Lillie crocheted, loved to read, and cared for her many plants. Her green thumb rescued many friends' plants that needed a second...

Richard Lee Bolling passed away on Monday, May 17, 2021, 79 years old at St. Elizabeth Hospital Beaumont. Richard was born June 20, 1941 in Beaumont, Texas. He honorably served in the Navy after graduating high school and traveled the world on the U.S.S. Shangri-La carrier ship. He hired on and retired from SWBT/ATT/Lucent after 30 years and often bragged about running a mile of C-wire in Dayton in one day when party lines were the latest technology. He climbed every third pole. He worked his way up to installing and maintaining business systems for Lucent. He coached Amelia Little League when his sons were playing. He was an enthusiastic longtime member of the Optimist Club and was...

Joann Crocker Cherry, 89, longtime resident of Beaumont, passed away on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in Richmond, TX. Joann was born December 1, 1931 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Joann spent her childhood in Beaumont and was a 1949 graduate of French High School. She and her husband, Robert Alton, were high school sweethearts and were married almost 50 years prior to his death in 1996. She received her certification as a Licensed Vocational Nurse from Lamar University and was a Labor and Delivery Nurse at Women's and Children's Hospital of SE Texas for 25 years prior to her retirement in 1995. Joann loved bowling and participated in competitive league play for many years, even being credited...

Miriam Iris Portie (Cade) Ney was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She left this world to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 13, 2021 at age 96. She was born to Samuel and Ada Elender Portie on January 19, 1925 in Beaumont, Texas. After graduating from Vidor High School in 1943, she worked at the Phelan Company and retired from the Port of Beaumont in 1986. Iris loved traveling with her late husband Don after retirement. They spent many years taking bus tours and exploring the USA. Her children and grandchildren loved hearing stories from their trips. She was a skilled baker and was known for her famous Pecan Pies and Rum Cake. You never left Iris'...

Patricia "Trish" Barry Rumble, 74, passed away on March 31, 2021 at University Place in Houston, Texas. A Celebration of Trish's Life will be held Saturday, April 17th, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, located at 4955 Pine Street, Beaumont, Texas, 77705. In lieu of flowers, her family gratefully asks that donations be made to Theatre Forward in her memory. To share fond memories and expressions of sympathy, please visit tiny.cc/trishrumble.