My deepest sympathy to the families of the of lost alumni.
Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers!
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Posted om Facebook by Stacy Evans Bernard:
Just learned my friend has passed. Gwen Leblanc '77
She was undergoing chemotherapy from a 2nd cancer round and now has had a major stroke. She is the kindest and most soft-spoken person I have ever known. She attended Lucas elem, Bowie and French. Has many friends from schools and needs our prayers, love and support. Please lift her up in prayer. Thank You
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Posted on Facebook by Ted Jorden Nov 7th 2020
It is with a heavy heart, that I post the loss of my older brother, Michael Rhea Jorden. He graduated from FHS in 1957, joined the USAF, which sent him to Yale University, where he learned to speak Chinese. After four years in the USAF, he attended the University of Washington, and the University of Houston. He was a draftsman by trade, but also was an artist and sculptor. He has lived in Tom Ball, Texas for over 30 years, and leaves behind a wife, daughter, and two grandchildren. He will be laid to rest in the Jorden family plot in Reiselle, Texas next week
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Burl Caraway '60
Burl Caraway transitioned from this life to the next on January 12, 2022. As he would say, “holy mackerel” it was a life well lived with few regrets. Burl was born on September 23, 1941, to the late James Pershing Caraway and Ruth Culver at Hotel Dieu in Beaumont, Texas. Burl’s formative years were shaped by his friendship with his best friend and brother, James (Jim) Caraway. Jim and Burl lived a life filled with music and art. Burl played the saxophone and later the bass guitar while Jim played everything you can imagine. They filled the air with their talent (mostly in the Caraways’ garage on Ricky Lane with Granny Caraway playing piano in the background). Driving his first car, a ‘46 Ford coupe, Burl graduated from French High School in 1960. He’d rather not disclose whether he was on the honor roll or not. However, his shoulders were held high when he was voted “most likely to succeed”. Indeed, he found success, as he went on to begin his career first driving a bread truck, laboring at both Dupont and Goodyear, then in 1977, he made the brave decision to continue his career in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Burl married Barbara Kay Wigington in 1963 and they traveled the world with their three children, Robyn, Stephanie, and Bryan in tow. Visiting places like Egypt, Iran, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, England, and Scotland; their life was colorful and filled with joy, adventure, and many wonderful memories. In every country he visited, Burl never met a stranger, and always represented a true Texas man. He loved people of all color, religion, ethnicity, and culture and was a friend to all and an enemy to none. After settling back in Orange, Texas, Burl met and married Peggy Joyce Weeks on St. Patrick’s Day in 1997. He was a loving stepdad to Tammy Robbins and Kim Goslin and even helped raise his step-great grandson, Joseph Caiden Goslin, whom he loved very much. If you were looking for Burl, you’d surely find him either hard at work or playing his favorite game of golf. His favorite foods were pita chips and cheese dip, butterfingers, and butterscotch malts - who can blame him? Burl was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Caraway, and survived by his brother, Jim Caraway, his children, Robyn Blackmon, Stephanie Cumpton and Bryan Caraway, and his stepchild, Kim Goslin. Burl has 7 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and a step-great grandchild, Joseph Caiden Goslin.
Burl’s funeral service will be held at Claybar Funeral Home (504 North 5th Street, Orange, Texas 77630) on January 18th from 1pm-2pm, with a private viewing from 12:30pm-1pm. The burial will immediately follow the service at Autumn Oaks Memorial Park (5450 US Hwy 90, Orange, Texas 77630). The family would like to thank the staff of Focused Care Nursing Home, specifically Cecilly and Willamena for their loving care of Burl at the end of his life. To share a memory of Burl or send a condolence to his family, you may email stcumpton@gmail.com, please specify if you’d like it to be read out loud. Arrangements can be sent to Claybar Funeral Home.
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Charles Lionel Klock Jr. '73
Charles L. Klock Jr., otherwise known as Bubba, Tick, Ticki, Tick Tock, passed away on January 13, 2022 at his home in Kountze, Texas. Charles was a resident of the Golden Triangle nearly all his life. He was born on August 21, 1955 in Beaumont, Texas. In 1973, he graduated from French High. Shortly thereafter, in 1974, he married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Sheila Havens. He and she trained to be missionaries for several years at Baptist Bible Translators Institute, in Duncan, OK. After returning to Beaumont, Charles took a job with the United States Post Office. He worked with the post office for 40 years before retiring in 2011. Charles spent 20 years serving as a pastor at Grace Bible Church (formerly Grace Bible Fellowship) in Vidor, Texas.
No one who knew Charles can deny his passion for spreading the gospel of Christ. He spent his life studying God’s Word, praying with hurting people, and teaching the Bible. He carried out the great commission in such a way that his loved ones have complete security in knowing that he is present with the Lord today. His memory will be cherished and kept alive by his wife; Sheila Havens Klock, daughter Jennifer Nichols and her husband Chris Nichols, daughter Joni Ruiz and her husband Josh Ruiz, grandchildren; Kyle Nichols, Kayla Nichols, Libba Ruiz and Lenox Ruiz.
He will be remembered by his siblings; Belinda Klock, Tim Klock and his wife Laura, Terry Klock and his wife Laura, and James Klock and his wife Mindy. He will also be missed by all extended family and life-long friends.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service, to celebrate Charles’s life on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 2:00 PM. The memorial will be held at Iglesia Bautista de le Fe, located at 6025 Hwy 12 Vidor, TX 77662.
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Postedon Facebook by: Joyce Kaufmann
January 14.
On Nov 13, 2021, Carl "Red" Phillips, class of '68, went to fly high in the sky. R.I.P. my dear friend
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Gay Hope Allen '65
Gay Hope Allen, of Arlington, Texas, passed away on August 1, 2020 at the age of 73 years. Gay was born on February 10, 1947 in Beaumont, Texas to Charles D Allen and DeAlva E Allen. She grew up in Beaumont with her younger brother Charles (Charlie) D Allen Jr. and graduated from French HS. Gay then went on to receive her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Blue Mountain College. After graduation Gay took a year off, bought a bus ticket, and traveled the country. She retold stories of her travels and experiences with her family and anyone else she felt would appreciate adventure. Gay lived many wonderful lives. Once a bible school teacher by day and rock n’ roller at night, Gay became a successful business woman as a single mother raising her one and only child, Christina. She loved to sing, write poetry, feed squirrels and birds, cheer on the Dallas Cowboys, and, most of all, spend time with her daughter and grandchildren. She was a loving mother, Mimi, friend and a bonus mom to many.
Gay Hope Allen was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Christina Hope Maile, son-in-law, Brandon J Maile, granddaughter, Eudora Hope Allen, grandson, Daniel Allen Davis, as well as extended family in Louisiana and a few good friends.
Gay’s family is planning a Celebration of Life in her honor. The date and time for this memorial service will be announced here as soon as those details are available. Condolences and flowers may be sent to the location of the memorial service. A Memorial Fund has been established to assist Gay Hope Allen’s family with her funeral arrangements and any contributions there are greatly appreciated.
"We work in the spirit with prayer while God works in the natural world to help us be a blessing to someone else"
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Jo K. Irvine posted on a FHS page. .
It is with a heavy heart that I just learned, that one of the most beloved ladies in our Class of 1964 has gained her Angel Wings. Bonnie Lois Etie, age 75, went in last night for emergency bypass surgery, but the damage to her heart must have been too great. I’m still in total shock!! She will be sorely missed, but Heaven has a lot more laughter in it now. Please keep the Etie friends and family in your prayers.
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W. L. Pate, Jr.
Wilbur Lee (W.L.) Pate, Jr., entered the world on July 20, 1948, in Beaumont, Texas as the second child and first-born son of Connie Marie and W.L. Pate, Sr. It was in a small, modest duplex on the corner of Magnolia and Live Oak where a 72-year fervent allegiance to the city, state, and country of his birth began. On Sunday, June 20, 2021, he completed his service to his community and nation and began anew in his heavenly home.
W.L. was a patriot who loved his country and believed that the United States, Texas, and Beaumont were worth fighting for through defending one’s country, serving in the halls of government, and supporting your community. His patriotism and love for this country was nurtured by his father and grew with the years. He considered himself blessed to be an American, a Texan, and a citizen of Beaumont.
A U.S. Army Reserve veteran who served his nation for 27 years, he was inducted in 1967 as a private, and retired in 1994 as a Lieutenant Colonel. In 1969 he was commissioned as an infantry officer at Fort Benning, GA. In the years that followed, he served as an Artillery Battery Commander, a Headquarters Commandant for 75th Maneuver Area Command (the largest Army Reserve unit in the US), graduated from Command and General Staff College as a 30-year-old Captain in 1978, and became an Instructor for Command and General Staff College before retiring. Following his honorable discharge, he served his nation again on the Congressional Military Academy Selection Board for 3 Congressman, serving several years as Chairman. The enduring values of the United States Army – Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage were the hallmarks of his public and private life.
As a son of Beaumont, one of W.L.’s greatest joys was contributing to the welfare and needs of his neighbors and friends in his lifelong hometown. A 14-year city councilman and two-time mayor pro tem, his colleagues and fellow citizens considered him as one of Beaumont’s biggest cheerleaders and ambassadors. As a successful businessman and entrepreneur, he was a tireless advocate for economic development within the community. He was a champion for Lamar University and the Cardinal Club, the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Foundation and Museum, and for downtown Beaumont. These are only a handful of organizations and businesses that W. L. promoted, supported, and served. In January of this year, W. L. represented Beaumont and the Babe Zaharias Foundation in Washington, DC and accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded posthumously to ‘the Babe’ by President Donald Trump.
His service to God, Country and Community will be his lasting legacy, along with the integrity, honor and duty that he instilled in those he loved and spent time with. His family remembers him as Bubba, a term of endearment that was bestowed by his ‘sweet sister’ Pat Pate Griffith. W. L. (Bubba) was that son, brother, father, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend who always managed to maintain a positive and optimistic persona leaving one feeling appreciated and loved. He was famous for entertaining his audience with stories full of humor, humility, and that inevitable burst of wisdom. As he was known for saying on his Fox Forum radio show: (Tell -em you got it straight from W. L. Pate.)
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Daisy Loraine Fridelle, class of '35
Daisy Loraine Fridelle, 93, of Beaumont, passed away on March 21, 2021, at St. Elizabeth Hospital.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 26, 2021, at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church in Beaumont. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m., at Zavalla Cemetery in Zavalla, Tx.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., March 26, 2021, at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church.
Born in Gillett, Tx, on July 9, 1927, she was the daughter of John William Lewis and Annie Virginia (Townsend) Lewis. Loraine was a homemaker and a talented seamstress. She was a charter member of Westgate Memorial Baptist Church. Loraine was the Salutatorian of French High School Class of 1935. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Loraine was a big hearted caretaker for many people during her life and will be deeply missed by all those who had the pleasure to know her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Linwood Fridelle; parents, John and Annie Lewis; grandmother, Alice Townsend; son, Donald Gene Fridelle; siblings, Aline Crenshaw, Margie Tobey, Johnnie V. Murphy, and Raymond Lewis.
She is survived by her children, Billy Fridelle and wife Chris, Betty Sue Holman and husband Paul; daughter-in-law, Karen Fridelle; grandchildren, Patricia Fridelle, Heather Wyble, Josh Fridelle, Wayne Fridelle, Sarah Tiller, Donna Rankin, Angie Dickerson, Hilary Riley, Kyle Holman, Cody Holman; 17 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
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Unknown Obits
I found these obits doing a search for FHS. classes unknown!
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Please remember those whom we have lost and contact those who are still here to remind them that you care. Make the call before you miss the opportunity to tell them how much you miss them and enjoyed knowing them in the past. Tomorrow may be too late.
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