In Remembrance of the '68 Class Family and Friends

Phyllis Ann Woodard Charles, wife of Godfrey R Charles

 Phyllis Ann Woodard Charles of Port Arthur, Texas peacefully departed her earthly home Friday, October 7, 2022 at Harbor Hospice of Beaumont, Texas.
She was born September 11, 1950 in Port Arthur, Texas to the union of the late Leonard Arthur Woodard, Jr. and Alberta Rayon Woodard.
Phyllis was the epitome of class, grace, and elegance. She was a leader and helper to all who was in need. She wore many titles, but she was most proud to be a mother, matriarch, grandmother, sister, wife, aunt and friend. To her many talents and hobbies, she was an excellent cook, enjoyed scrapbooking, volunteer work, games, and ministering to anyone who listen about the Lord. Phyllis was a faithful member of Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church where she was a Deaconess and Vacation Bible School Director.
Phyllis attended Port Arthur Schools: Sacred Heart School, grades K-9, Lincoln High School, 10th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School, 11th & 12th grade. Phyllis was raised in Rock Island Baptist Church, where she participated in Sunday School, worship (including Junior church) Training Union, Choir, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School Teacher, and Church Clerk. Her community activities include her as a chartered member of Epsilon Theta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Secretary of Port Arthur’s Beautification Committee, and Board member of Gulf Coast Community Health Center.
Phyllis was preceded in eternal rest by her parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle, sister -Shelia Woodard.Phyllis was preceded in eternal rest by her parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle, sister -Shelia Woodard.
Phyllis is survived by her husband of 33 years, Godfrey R Charles, Sr.; sons, Godfrey Charles II, Geoffery Charles (Catina); daughter Nichole Griffin; grandchildren, Shemar, Trinity, Harmoni Charles and Ne’kayla Vaughn; sisters, Lynda Woodard-Hall, Susie Jackson-McInnis; brother Leonard Woodard III and adopted brother Earnest Lee Hamilton Jr.
She also leaves to cherish in her loving memory nieces Kayla Hall Acosta, Kiandra Hall, Arnesha Jackson, and Crystal Jackson; nephew, Marc Hall (Ashley), Parren Woodard, and Shantione Jackson, her special babies, great nieces and nephews Layla and Leah Acosta, Morgan, Marc Devante, Ashton, My’Kayla, and Maci Hall; close cousin Lori LaBrie and family; god daughters Tina Briscoe and Monica Welcome Cruz; other relatives and friends.
Funeral service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 501 W Thomas Blvd, Port Arthur, TX. Burial will be Monday, October 17, 2022 at Houston National Cemetery, Houston, TX.

Jan Annette Hollier, sister of Fred Holier Jr.

 68, passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. Born on October 15, 1954 in Port Arthur, Texas, she was the fifth of seven children of the late Fred and June Hollier. She attended DeQueen Elementary School, Robert E. Lee Elementary School, Thomas Edison Junior High School, graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1973, and graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor in Music Education in 1977. She started studying music in third grade by playing the trumpet at which she was very accomplished. Through the years, she studied piano, taught herself how to play the six-string and twelve-string acoustic guitars as well as the electric bass, and studied numerous other instruments at Baylor as she had an emphasis in instrumentation as part of her music degree. She and her twin sister, Jill Hollier Leal, began their music careers as teenagers singing at the First Baptist Church in Port Arthur. They traveled the United States entertaining at various events and venues including Las Vegas and Reno. Their younger brother, Jeff Hollier, joined the act playing trombone, drums, and singing. Jan later entertained as a successful solo artist in Dallas, Texas. Being a highly skilled songwriter and musician, Jan’s “Trying to Hold the Memory” was one of the first-place winners in the 10th Annual Kentucky Fried Chicken National Songwriting Contest which was recorded by country-pop singer Sylvia. Many other awards followed throughout the many years of her entertainment career. Eventually, Jan made her way to Nashville, Tennessee. She greatly enjoyed leading worship music and was hired as the worship leader at an American Baptist Church in Sunnyvale, California. She returned to Nashville where she began a career as a Claims Examiner III for the Tennessee Disability Determination Services and retired in June of 2020. She continued to play her trumpet in her church orchestra at Tulip Grove Baptist Church in Old Hickory, Tennessee and as a member of various other community bands in Nashville. Besides her parents, Jan was preceded in death by her older sisters, Malinna Hensley and Joanna Schmidtke, and her niece, Chloie Collins. Her immediate family members who remain behind are her oldest brother, Fred Hollier, Jr. and wife Sona; older brother, Dr. Paul Hollier and wife Kim; twin sister, Jill Hollier Leal and husband Robert; and younger brother, Jeff Hollier and wife Clara. Jan was buried on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at a small, private graveside service at Sutter Cemetery near Yuba City, California on a gorgeous, sunny day surrounded by much love, music, and memories of her beauty and talents. Active pallbearers were Fred Hollier, Jr., James Middleton, John Penning, Jim Penning, Rick Robinson, and Jim Edwards. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Paul Hollier and Jeff Hollier. Jan will be greatly missed by her family and friends around the country as she will be singing, praising, and playing her trumpet in Heaven to the glory of the Lord for eternity!

Lavern Ruth McMillan, faculty member

 died peacefully in her sleep at her home in the retirement community of The Beehive Cottages in St George Utah on January 7, 2023. She was 97. She was born to Ruth Howle and William B. McMillan in their home in San Antonio, Texas on Oct 10, 1925. At age 10 she moved with the family to Sacramento, CA. After graduating from Sacramento HS in 1942 and studying 2 years at the Jr college there she moved back to Texas. She earned both her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree from the University of Texas. She also studied at the University of Maryland, Montclair State College in New Jersey, Michigan State University and the University of San Francisco with scholarships granted by The National Science Foundation Institute in Graduate Mathematics. She spent most of her career teaching math in the Port Arthur ISD, first at Woodrow Wilson Jr High where she became the department director and then at Thomas Jefferson HS where she also became the department director. She was well liked and respected by both her students and colleagues. Years later students would tell her how much she meant to them. She was an educator that influenced and inspired a generation to do great things. She retired early after a kidney removal from cancer and travelled all over the world, from Europe to Australia. After years of travel, she returned to her love of teaching, this time at Lamar University, teaching math to education students. Lavern had a commitment to service, whether it was volunteering at her church, The First Christian Church of Port Arthur, where she served in many positions, or volunteering at the Museum of the Gulf Coast, visiting anyone she knew in the hospital and nursing homes, or just taking food to friends and neighbors who were ill. She loved helping people. She was very social, loved parties and loved being surrounded by friends and family. In 2018 Lavern move to Southern Utah to be closer to her niece. She loved the beauty of it with it’s mountains and constant sunshine. Lavern’s life was a life well lived, full of fun, adventure and good friends. She was well educated, well read and well travelled. She was smart and sharp as a tack until the end. She made learning fun. She loved to play games, especially dominoes like “42”, and Mexican Train but was more than willing to learn ANY new game as she did just this past New Years Day, learning “Jokers and Pegs”. She will be remembered for her kindness, philanthropy and for being a good friend, mentor and teacher and will be greatly missed. She is survived by her niece Melissa(Missy)Long,(Carson); her two great-nephews, James (Jay) Long (Vanessa); Nicholas Long (Bobbie). Her great-grandnephews Corbin Long, Liam Long, Mason Long, Nolan Long, great grandniece Kendyll Long, her brother-in-law James Dean Sr. and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother William, McMillan, her sister Jeanne Dean and nephew Jimmy Dean Jr. A memorial service will be held at a later date in San Antonio, Texas.

Cora Helene Fanguy, mother of Paula Fanguy

Cora Helene Fanguy passed away on January 5, 2023. Mrs. Fanguy was the only child of the late Delbert and Bennie Louder of Port Arthur. She was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 23, 1929. She and her parents moved to Port Arthur in 1940. After Helene graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School she met the love of her life for fifty-one years, Hugh Paul Fanguy.
Mrs. Fanguy was a devoted mother, giving of her time to the Blue Birds, Camp Fire and Boy Scout organizations, the Rainbow Girls and an Alpha Delta Pi mom. Helene was also a member of the Quota Club, and the Port Arthur Service League for over 25 years where she volunteered her time at the Country Store and at St. Mary’s Hospital along with participating for years with Calvacade Charity Ball. For the past 20 years, she volunteered at the Museum of the Gulf Coast in downtown Port Arthur where she helped every Thursday in the gift shop and graciously greeted the public during the Mardi Gras season. Mrs. Fanguy has also served on the board of the Port Arthur Community Home for several years. She was an active member of the St. Mark’s Methodist Church where she lead the Bereavement Committee. Also, she was a loyal supporter of Texas A&M University and Lamar University where she participated with the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.
Mrs. Fanguy was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Fanguy. She is survived by her two children, Paula Maltba Lerner and her husband, Ronald Lerner of Houston, Texas; also, her son, David Alan Fanguy and his wife Nena, of Fort Worth, Texas. Mrs. Fanguy has three grandchildren, Chris Maltba of Houston, Zachary Paul Fanguy of Missouri and Joshua Miller and his wife, Margaret, of Colorado Spriings, Colorado. There are three great grandchildren Calvin, Jonathan and Maddalynn.
A visitation and service for family and friends will be Saturday, January 14 at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves, Texas. A private graveside service for the family will be held in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Marie Joyce Simon Hebert, mother of Janice Hebert Boudreaux

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 12:00 PM in St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Maurice for Marie Joyce Simon Hebert, age 95, who passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2022, at Cedar Crest Memory Care Center in Lafayette.
Rev. Paul Bienvenu, pastor of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church will officiate the services.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2022, from 10:00 AM until the time of services at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Maurice. A Rosary will be recited at 11:00 AM.
Marie Joyce Simon Hebert was born July 22, 1927, in Maurice, the daughter of the late Eddie & Ethel Simon. She resided in Port Arthur, Tx. for 74 years. Joyce married her lifelong friend and love, Ovide “Jim” James Hebert, who preceded her in death in 2001 at the early age of 75 from lung cancer. Jim & Joyce were devoted parents to their three children and were active members of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Joyce was a dedicated wife and mother first and foremost. She had a vivacious personality and always made people laugh around her. Joyce worked as a beautician at a young age and then became a homemaker to care for her children while her husband worked and served his country. She thoroughly enjoyed her hobby of sewing all outfits for her children when she could. Joyce most definitely enjoyed spending many of her early days with her children at their camp in Toledo Bend. There were many fish stories to tell, true ones, and maybe some “little white lies” along the way. She enjoyed cooking for her family events, especially the Sunday family get-togethers. If you haven’t had her carrot cake, you never attended a true “Maw Maw” family event. Joyce adored every single one of her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. There was nothing she loved more than to spoil and love on babies whenever she could.
Joyce is survived by her daughters, Mary Janice Boudreaux and her husband, Barry of Kingwood, Tx., Donna Faye Trahan and her husband, Matthew of Maurice, and her daughter-in-law, Carolyn Hebert of Branson, Mo.; her grandchildren, Alvin Wayne Hebert II, James Hebert (Debbie), Bridget Ann Degrado (Kirk), Brandi Ann Bear (Kyle), Brooke Ann Golden (John), Janie Marie Guidry (Elliot), and Danielle Nicole Fontentot (Mathew); her great-grandchildren, Anna-Gayle and Ryker Guidry, Eli Guchereau, Madison and Aiden Fontentot, Emma and Dylan DeGrado, Beckem Snowden, Sophia Golden, Bryce and Logan Bear, Ashlyn Hebert, Cadden Hebert, Cameron Moore, Erin Hebert Ettenger (Jeffery), Austin Hebert, Mason Hebert, and Gavin Hebert; as well as her great-great-grandchildren, Braylen Ettenger and Karter Ettenger.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ovide James Hebert, Jr.; her parents, Eddie Simon and Ethel Eve Simon of Maurice; her son, Alvin Wayne I of Orange, Tx.; as well as her siblings, Dewey Simon of Port Arthur, Tx., Raleigh Simon of Nederland, Tx., Georgie Oltremari of Port Acre, Tx., and Lenora Bertrand of Abbeville.
Pallbearers will be James Hebert, Matthew Trahan, Barry Boudreaux, Eddie Oltremari, Mathew Fontenot, Elliot Guidry, Ryker Guidry, and Aiden Fontenot.
Honorary pallbearers will be Roy Bertrand, Jr., Joey Simon, Jerry Oltremari, and Danky Decuir.
In lieu of flowers memorial donation may be made in honor of "Marie Joyce Hebert" to the Miles Perret Cancer Center www.milesperret.networkforgood.com, or to Hospice Compassus www.compassus.com/about-us/giving-and-donations.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Nurses, Doctors, and Staff of Hospice Compassus in Lafayette; as well as her personal sitters Lisa Delcambre, Charlene Delcambre, and Therese Weiss for the loving care and compassion that they all provided Mrs. Hebert during her time of need.

Violet M. Powell, mother of Tommy Romero

98, of Nederland, Texas, passed away on December 28, 2022, at The Medical Center of Southeast Texas.
Funeral services will be at 2pm, Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at Levingston Funeral Home in Port Neches, Texas; Burial will follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches, Texas.
Visitation will be from 1pm-2pm, Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at Levingston Funeral Home in Port Neches, Texas.
She was born in Port Arthur, Texas on January 23, 1924; she was the daughter James Irvin Jordan, and Malissa Gibson-Jordan. She was a supervisor for the Consumers Ice Co. before retiring after more than thirty years of service. She loved putting her family first and her and Buddy loved RVing as they have been to all the states and some more than once.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harmon P. “Buddy” Powell; and her five brothers, Lloyd, Billy, J.D., Irvin, and Floyd Jordan.
She is survived by her daughter, Melba Romero and husband Jerry of Nederland, Texas; her son, Johnny Powell and wife Jackie of Nederland, Texas; and son, Tommy Romero and wife Linda of Groves, Texas; and her sister, Velma Anderson of San Augustine, Texas. She had seven grandchildren, Cindy Sweat, Preston Romero, Frank Romero, Jason Powell, Tanya Clemmons, Jerret Romero, and Natasha Sheppard. She also had twelve great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Tim Lawrence, husband of Mindy Marburger

passed away peacefully in his Houston, TX, home on Tuesday October 18, 2022. Tim was born on August 16, 1943, in San Diego, CA, and is survived by his wife Mindy, daughter Sarah, son-in-law Jeremy, grandson Dylan, and sister Alma. Tim was preceded in death by his parents Daisy and George Lawrence and his brother Jon Dee Lawrence.
A memorial service will be conducted on Saturday, November 12th, 2022, at 2pm at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church, 1900 Bering Dr, Houston, TX 77057. Immediately following the service, all are invited to visit with the family at a reception in the fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Houston Food Bank or the charity of your choice.
The service will be available to be viewed via live stream.
Obituary for G. Tim Lawrence | Integrity Funeral Care
Here is the link to the service this Saturday, 11/12/2022. The link will not be active until Saturday, about 1:30pm, but the streaming of the service will also be accessible for several additional days.
http://www.emersonhouston.org/lawrencememorial
Our daughter created a terrific slide show of Tim's life that will be streamed with music in the sanctuary 20 minutes before the service. It will also be playing at the reception and as part of the service stream for a few days on the link above. We will be able to share this with my mom, in the comfort of her own space, in the days after the service. She appears in many of the family pictures over the years.
My mom, Nevilee Marburger, now 97 years old, had lived with us since 2010, and began to dramatically decline about the same time Tim's care became more complex. We arranged for her move to Assisted Living at the end of June, and she transitioned to their Memory Care Unit as a fall risk and WC bound by the end of August, after her last hospitalization.
Life is still quite topsy-turvy here, as so many spaces had to suddenly be repurposed, dismantled, or supplied anew with care appropriate equipment and medications to meet one discharge deadline after another. Our remarkable daughter was laser focused, orchestrating the past several months through her many professional networks, friends, and Amazon. My connections brought us a uniquely skilled Nurse Practitioner to "attend" Tim's Cardiac Hospice Care, with an LVAD in place, through the one Hospice that had allowed her to develop a niche program for the cardiac patient.

Gwendolyn Ann Park, Edison Girl’s PE coach

88, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2022, at Harbor Hospice Hospital in Beaumont, Texas.
A Visitation will be held Saturday, October 1, 2022, from 10:00am to 11:00am at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 11:00am at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves. Officiating will be Sean Leick.
Gwen was born on August 10, 1934, in Port Neches. She graduated from Port Neches Groves High School. She received her bachelor’s degree from Lamar and her master’s in education from University of Arizona. She retired from PAISD after 30 years of service as a middle school PE teacher, which allowed more time for involvement with service organizations. Gwen held officer positions with Delta Kappa Gamma – Alpha Omega Chapter, Port Arthur Association of Retired School Personnel, Port Arthur Teachers Credit Union, Eastern Star and Shriners.
Gwen enjoyed travelling, woodworking, printing, and bingo, but most of all Gwen enjoyed being around others. She considered all her friends as family. Gwen was very appreciative for the relationships she had with each friend.
Gwen is now rejoined with family and friends that have gone before, including her close friend, Betty Madole. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ernest and Lettie Block, her mother, E. Loyce Park, and other family members Jimmy, Mary, and Jill Wooten. She is survived by James Wooten and wife Miranda.
Gwen, with her sweet smile and giving personality, will be remembered forever.